IRIA News

11 minute read

Foreign ministers from the United States, Japan, India and Australia met in Atlanta, U.S., on October 31, 2026, to discuss maritime security, freedom of navigation and economic cooperation across the Indo-Pacific.

The four ministers met on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. The discussions brought together U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar for their third meeting this year.

The officials also pledged more than $85 million in technical and financial assistance to expand access to trusted artificial intelligence technologies across the Indo-Pacific.

In a joint statement, the ministers stressed the importance of keeping major maritime routes open to international commerce, ensuring energy security and protecting the safe passage of commercial vessels and their crews without imposing transit fees.

The ministers also reaffirmed their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific and agreed to strengthen practical cooperation in maritime security, economic resilience, critical technologies and disaster response.

Freedom of Navigation Through Strategic Waterways

The ministers highlighted the importance of protecting navigational rights and freedoms in the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea, and the Bab Al Mandeb Strait under international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

They emphasized that the uninterrupted movement of commercial shipping, secure energy supplies, and the safety of maritime crews and vessels are essential to global trade and economic stability. Their statement comes amid continuing concerns over the security of major international shipping routes that connect key energy-producing regions with global markets.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had also called for stronger protection of major maritime trade routes earlier on Saturday, particularly the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb. He separately stressed the need to strengthen and diversify secure supply chains, especially those involving critical minerals.

The Quad ministers also discussed security developments across the Indo-Pacific, including the East China Sea and South China Sea, as well as the situation in the Middle East. Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi expressed strong opposition to unilateral attempts to change the status quo through force or coercion.

Concerns Over Economic Coercion and Supply Chains

Alongside maritime security, the ministers expressed serious concerns about economic coercion, particularly arbitrary export restrictions and non-market policies that create industrial overcapacity and disrupt global supply chains in critical industries.

Although the joint statement did not identify any country, the concerns come amid growing tensions over restrictions on critical mineral exports and China’s dominant position in several important supply chains.

The discussions focused on reducing dependence on individual suppliers and building more reliable and diversified supply networks. The four countries also emphasized the importance of trusted infrastructure and economic security as foundations for long-term stability and prosperity.

The ministers welcomed progress under the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative, launched in May 2026, which aims to strengthen cooperation on securing supplies of essential minerals. One of its main priorities is recovering critical minerals from electronic waste and scrap materials, reducing the need to depend on a limited number of suppliers.

A successful G20 Ministerial Summit in Atlanta, which included the 3rd QUAD meeting of the year. @SecRubio remains highly committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific. https://t.co/Rgdnw9Wars

— Ambassador Sergio Gor (@USAmbIndia) October 31, 2026

The United States committed $10 million to support infrastructure and facilities in India and ASEAN countries that can recover critical minerals from waste. The four countries also welcomed private-sector investment in waste collection networks, processing plants and refineries to develop reliable recycling supply chains.

They agreed to explore ways to simplify export and import procedures for recyclable materials to facilitate cross-border movement and strengthen existing regulations.

Energy security was another important part of the discussions. In September, the Quad held its first Fuel Security Forum, where the four countries discussed strengthening their strategic petroleum reserves and fuel stockpiles to improve the region’s ability to manage supply disruptions.

The ministers also reviewed cooperation on digital connectivity, including efforts to develop secure, reliable and high-speed undersea cable routes across the Indo-Pacific. The initiative aims to strengthen regional communications infrastructure and reduce vulnerabilities in international data networks.

$85 Million for AI Cooperation

The four countries identified Super Intelligence (SI), which Australia, India and Japan use as a term for artificial intelligence, as an important area for future economic growth. They announced plans to provide more than $85 million in technical and financial assistance to expand access to trusted AI technologies across the Indo-Pacific, including through the Quad SI Accelerator.

The ministers also welcomed initiatives such as Pax Silica, which focuses on strengthening cooperation around advanced technologies and their supporting supply chains. They emphasized the importance of building secure supply networks for advanced semiconductors and AI hardware, agreeing to launch a new effort to identify potential supply chain bottlenecks before they cause disruptions.

Cooperation will also cover advanced telecommunications, including 5G, 6G and Open Radio Access Networks (Open RAN). The four countries agreed to identify priority countries for cooperation on trusted communications technologies and develop a pipeline of reliable 5G projects, while exploring future cooperation on AI-enabled radio access networks.

They also agreed to continue work on digital identity standards to make cooperation between public and private institutions easier. Separately, senior cyber officials from the four countries met in October and pledged to strengthen their respective capabilities to support a secure and resilient digital environment across the Indo-Pacific.

Expands Maritime Security Cooperation

The ministers welcomed progress in maritime security, including the second Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission, which sailed from Chennai, India, to Perth, Australia, between September 25 and October 7.

Representatives from all four countries participated aboard an Indian Coast Guard offshore patrol vessel. The mission was intended to improve coordination and interoperability among the four countries’ maritime forces and strengthen their ability to address unlawful activities at sea.

The Quad also announced plans to hold its first exercise under the Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Collaboration initiative during the Sea Dragon 2027 exercise. The initiative, launched in May in New Delhi, aims to improve information sharing and maritime domain awareness across the region.

In addition, the four countries will organize their first Quad Maritime Domain Awareness Track 1.5 Symposium in early 2027 under the Maritime Initiative for Training in the Indo-Pacific (MAITRI). The meeting will provide a platform for regional partners to discuss maritime surveillance approaches, technologies and information-sharing arrangements.

Infrastructure Projects Expand Regional Cooperation

The Quad ministers announced the establishment of the first Quad Business Leaders’ Forum, bringing together business leaders, government representatives and policy experts from the four countries. The forum will seek to strengthen public-private cooperation, develop commercial partnerships and promote business opportunities in important economic sectors.

Quad export credit agencies will also meet in Tokyo on November 18 to identify opportunities for practical cooperation, building on a memorandum of cooperation signed in 2024.

Infrastructure development remains another priority. The four countries are working with Fiji’s government to modernize three important ports at Suva, Lautoka and Rokobili. The United States, through the Millennium Challenge Corporation, is supporting the development of a Port Strategic Development Framework, while Australia is assessing the feasibility of a new transshipment port facility.

The Quad countries also reported providing more than 2,000 infrastructure fellowships across the Pacific, Southeast Asia and South Asia. These programs aim to develop technical and professional skills in partner countries and strengthen their ability to plan, build and maintain critical infrastructure.

Cyber Scams and Transnational Criminal Networks

The ministers also expressed concern over the growing spread of online fraud and cyber scams, describing them as threats to national and international peace and security.

They condemned criminal networks that operate scam centers, traffic people, and force victims into fraudulent activities targeting citizens of other countries. According to the joint statement, these operations steal tens of billions of dollars annually from individuals and households.

Pleased to participate in QUAD Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Atlanta, the third this year after our earlier interactions in New Delhi and Manila. Highlighted the importance of: ✅ Maintaining stability, driving prosperity and ensuring freedom of choice as our continuing commitments in the Indo-Pacific. ✅ Deepening cooperation to promote supply chain resilience and ensure technology, critical minerals & energy security. ✅ Countering non-market practices and increased economic stresses in the Indo-Pacific. ✅ Taking forward agreements on counter-terrorism, maritime security and capacity building to enhance resilience & contribute to peace and stability. ✅ Developing a more contemporary QUAD agenda with a practical approach. 🇮🇳 🇺🇸 🇦🇺 🇯🇵

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) October 31, 2026

The four countries pledged to work together to dismantle these networks and hold transnational criminal organizations and their leaders accountable.

U.S. Secretary of State Rubio also highlighted the importance of closer cooperation on digital infrastructure, pointing to a $20 million U.S.-backed project in Palau aimed at improving the country’s digital connectivity.

Quad Strengthens Disaster Response and Humanitarian Cooperation

The ministers reaffirmed their commitment to supporting regional partners during natural disasters and humanitarian emergencies. They offered condolences to those who lost their lives in the flash floods of August 26, 2026, and recognized India’s leading role in responding to Nepal’s emergency, alongside assistance provided by the other Quad countries.

As part of their Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Partnership, Australia, Japan and the United States will send observers to India’s annual Joint Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Exercise (AJHE-26) in November. The exercise will help improve coordination and shared capabilities for responding to natural disasters.

The four countries also reported progress in developing the Indo-Pacific Logistics Network’s standard operating procedures following a tabletop exercise hosted by Japan’s Ministry of Defense in September. The initiative aims to establish shared logistics arrangements that allow the countries to deliver humanitarian assistance and emergency supplies more quickly during regional crises.

Further work on these arrangements will continue during the next Indo-Pacific Logistics Network exercise, scheduled to take place alongside the next Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise.

Quad Reaffirms Regional Security Commitments

During the meeting, the ministers also discussed the security situation across the Indo-Pacific and the Middle East. They reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea and highlighted the importance of addressing malicious cyber activities.

Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi also thanked the United States, Australia and India for their continued support in seeking an immediate resolution to the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea.

The discussions followed earlier Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meetings in May and July 2026. The four countries agreed to continue advancing practical cooperation across four priority areas: maritime and transnational security, economic prosperity and security, critical and emerging technologies, and humanitarian assistance and emergency response.

Rubio said the Quad was not an anti-China or anti-anybody coalition, but acknowledged that some of the concerns raised in the joint statement related to activities that repeatedly originated from one country. He said Washington wanted to continue developing the partnership through practical projects rather than limiting it to broad diplomatic statements.

The ministers also expressed support for continued coordination ahead of the next Quad Leaders’ Summit and the next foreign ministers’ meeting. Rubio said a leaders’ meeting in Manila, potentially alongside the upcoming Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) gathering, would hopefully be announced soon, although he did not provide further details.

The October 31 meeting marked the third gathering of Quad foreign ministers this year and demonstrated the four countries’ intention to expand cooperation beyond traditional security issues into maritime trade, critical minerals, energy, digital infrastructure and emerging technologies.