The Quad is a diplomatic partnership between Australia, India, Japan, and the United States committed to supporting an open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific that is inclusive and resilient. It is a key pillar in Australia's foreign policy and complements our bilateral, regional, and multilateral cooperation, including with partners in Southeast Asia, the Pacific and the Indian Ocean.

The Quad's positive and practical agenda is focused on delivering outcomes for the Indo-Pacific, in response to the region's priorities and most pressing challenges, including health security, climate change, infrastructure, critical and emerging technology, cyber security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, space, maritime security, countering disinformation, and counter-terrorism.

Quad partners work closely to ensure our efforts complement wider engagement in the Indo-Pacific, both bilaterally and through regional institutions. All Quad partners are long standing ASEAN Dialogue Partners and steadfast supporters of ASEAN centrality, the ASEAN-led regional architecture and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. We respect the leadership of the Pacific Islands Forum and align our work with Pacific priorities, including the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. We are also further strengthening our cooperation with partners in the Indian Ocean region, including through the Indian Ocean Rim Association, to address the region's most pressing and important challenges.

The Quad's origins date back to our collaboration in response to the December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. The partnership is known formally as the 'Quad', not the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, noting its nature as a diplomatic, not security, partnership.

Quad Meetings and Processes

Quad partners engage regularly through Leaders, Foreign Ministers, Sherpas, senior officials, and experts. Quad Leaders' Summits and Foreign Ministers' Meetings are held on an annual basis.

Leaders' Summits

On 21 September, 2024, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. of the United States, welcomed Quad Leaders, Australian Prime Minister, the Hon Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi of India and Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan, to Wilmington, Delaware for the 2024 Quad Leaders’ Summit.

Quad Leaders reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation between the four nations and continuing to deliver practical outcomes for the region. Leaders released the 2024 Quad Leaders' Joint Statement , outlining the Quad’s collective vision for the future. A suite of new initiatives in key sectors were announced related to health security, connectivity and infrastructure, and maritime security.

On 20 May 2023, Prime Minister Albanese convened the third in-person Quad Leaders’ Summit with India’s Prime Minister Modi, Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida, and US President Biden in Hiroshima, Japan. The Leaders issued a Joint Statement, as well as a Quad Vision Statement – the first of its kind, setting out a shared vision for the region and the future of the Quad.

On 24 May 2022, Japan's Prime Minister Kishida hosted the second in-person Quad Leaders' Summit with Prime Minister Albanese, India's Prime Minister Modi and US President Biden. Leaders were accompanied in Tokyo by Foreign Minister Wong, Japan's then Foreign Minister Hayashi, India's External Affairs Minister Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Blinken. Leaders issued a Joint Statement.

On 4 March 2022, Quad Leaders met virtually to reaffirm their commitment to the Indo-Pacific and to discuss the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. Leaders issued a Joint Readout.

On 24 September 2021, US President Biden hosted the first in-person Quad Leaders' Summit with former Prime Minister Morrison, India's Prime Minister Modi and Japan's then Prime Minister Suga in Washington. The inaugural virtual Leaders' Summit was held on 12 March 2021 (13 March AEDT).

Quad Leaders have agreed to meet annually. The next Quad Leaders' Summit is due to be held in India in 2025.

The Quad Leaders' track is led by Australia's Quad Sherpa in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. See relevant Joint Statements and Fact Sheets under key publications below.

Foreign Ministers' Meetings

Quad Leaders' Summits are built on the foundation of Quad Foreign Minister engagement. During these meetings, Quad Foreign Ministers exchange views on regional strategic challenges, and develop deep habits of cooperation on core regional priorities, including maritime security, countering disinformation, counter-terrorism, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

Quad Foreign Ministers last met in Tokyo on 29 July 2024. Ministers discussed the continued delivery of Quad initiatives and the Quad’s ongoing commitment to supporting the resilience and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region. Quad ministers released a Joint Statement and Australia announced the launch of the Cable Connectivity and Resilience Centre.

On 22 September 2023, a Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting was held on the sidelines of the opening week of the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly. Foreign Minister Wong met with US Secretary of State Blinken, Indian External Affairs Minister Jaishankar and Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa. Ministers released a Joint Statement following the meeting.

A Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting was also held in New Delhi on 3 March 2023. Foreign Minister Wong met with India's External Affairs Minister Jaishankar, Japan's then Foreign Minister Hayashi, and US Secretary of State Blinken to deepen Quad cooperation. Foreign Ministers issued a Joint Statement. Foreign Minister Wong participated in a panel event with Quad Foreign Ministers at the Raisina Dialogue.

Quad Foreign Ministers have met annually to exchange views and drive cooperation on key regional strategic challenges. Earlier Quad Foreign Ministers Meetings were held on 23 September 2022 (New York) 11 February 2022 (Melbourne), 18 February 2021 (virtual meeting), 6 October 2020 (Tokyo), 26 September 2019 (New York).

Ministers intend to meet in person for the next Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting in the United States in 2025.

In addition to Foreign Minister-level engagements, Quad senior officials regularly meet to exchange strategic assessments and progress practical cooperation led by Foreign Ministers. The Quad Foreign Ministers' track is coordinated by Australia's Quad Senior Official in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Quad Senior Officials last met on 3 July (virtual meeting).

Key publications

September 2024 Quad Leaders’ Summit – Delaware

• September 2024 Quad Leaders’ Summit: Joint Statement
• September 2024 Quad Leaders’ Summit: Prime Minister Media Release Opening Remarks
• Quad Cancer Moonshot Initiative: Prime Minister’s Remarks
• Quad Cancer Moonshot Initiative: Media Release

July 2024 Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting – Toyko

July 2024 Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting: Joint Statement

September 2023 Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting – New York

September 2023 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting: Joint Statement

May 2023 Quad Leaders' Summit – Hiroshima

• May 2023 Quad Leaders’ Summit: Joint Statement
• May 2023 Quad Leaders’ Summit: Vision Statement
• May 2023 Quad Leaders’ Summit: Prime Minister Media Release
• May 2023 Quad Leaders’ Summit: Fact Sheet
• Quad Statement of Principles on Clean Energy Supply Chains in the Indo-Pacific
• Quad Open Radio Access Network Security Report 
• Quad Principles on Critical and Emerging Technology Standards 
• Quad Joint Principles for Secure Software

Media releases and statements

• July 2024 Quad Senior Officials’ Meeting
• March 2023 Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting: Joint Statement
• September 2022 Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting 
• Quad Leaders’ Summit May 2022: Joint Statement
• Quad Leaders’ Summit May 2022: Opening Remarks by PM Albanese
• Quad Leaders' Summit March 2022: Joint Statement
• February 2022 Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
• Quad Leaders’ Summit September 2021: Opening Remarks by former PM Morrison
• Quad Leaders' Summit September 2021: Joint Statement
• Quad Leaders’ Summit September 2021: Summit Fact Sheet
• Quad Leaders’ Summit March 2021: Opening Remarks by former PM Morrison
• Quad Leaders’ Summit March 2021: Joint Statement: 'The Spirit of the Quad'
• Quad Leaders’ Summit March 2021: Fact Sheet on Quad Summit Outcomes
• August 2021 Quad Senior Officials' Meeting
• February 2021 Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting