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 and the Pacific.

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 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. Quad partners engage regularly through Leaders, Foreign Ministers, Quad Sherpas, senior officials, and experts. The partnership is known formally as the 'Quad', not the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, noting its nature as a diplomatic, not security, partnership.

Quad Principles

At the 20 May 2023 Quad Leaders' Summit, Quad partners released a Vision Statement, the first of its kind, setting out a shared vision for the region and the future of the Quad.

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 20 May 2023, Prime Minister Albanese convened the Quad Leaders' Summit with India's Prime Minister Modi, Japan's Prime Minister Kishida and US President Biden in Hiroshima. The four Quad Leaders issued a Joint Statement and the Quad Vision Statement.

Quad Leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to advancing the Quad's positive and practical agenda in the region, building on progress made to address health security, climate change, critical and emerging technology, space, infrastructure, and cyber.

Leaders announced outcomes that build on existing areas of Quad cooperation and respond to the region's needs, including a Quad Statement of Principles on Clean Energy Supply Chains in the Indo-Pacific and a Quad Clean Energy Supply Chains Diversification Program; a Quad Health Security Partnership; a Quad Partnership for Cable Connectivity and Resilience; a Quad Infrastructure Fellowships Program; and an Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN) deployment in the Pacific.

On 24 May 2022, Japan's Prime Minister Kishida hosted the fourth 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 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 then Japan's 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 will be held in India in 2024.

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.

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. Discussion focused on deepening cooperation between Quad partners, delivering the Quad initiatives announced at the May Quad Leaders' Summit, and support for the rules-based international order. Ministers released a Joint Statement following the meeting.

The 2023 Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting was held in New Delhi on 3 March. Foreign Minister Wong met with India's External Affairs Minister Jaishankar, Japan's 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 on 3 March.

In 2022, the Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting was held in New York on 23 September. At that meeting, Quad Foreign Ministers signed guidelines to operationalise the Quad Humanitarian and Disaster Relief (HADR) partnership and issued a statement recognising the harmful effects of Ransomware.

Since 2019, 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 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 Japan in 2024.

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.

Key publications

September 2023 Quad interim 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

• March 2023 Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting: Joint Statement
• Quad Leaders’ Summit May 2022: Joint Statement
• September 2022 Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting 
• 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