Australia's Quad partnership with India, Japan and the United States is a key pillar in Australia’s foreign policy. The Quad is a diplomatic network of four countries committed to supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific that is inclusive and resilient. It complements our other bilateral, regional and multilateral cooperation, including with ASEAN member states and Pacific partners.

The Quad has a positive, practical agenda to respond to the region’s most pressing challenges, including COVID-19 vaccines, climate change, infrastructure, critical and emerging technology, cyber security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, space, maritime security, countering disinformation, and counter-terrorism.

Quad partners are steadfast supporters of ASEAN centrality, the ASEAN-led architecture and ASEAN’s Outlook on Indo-Pacific.

The Quad's origins date back to our collaboration in response to the December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

Quad meetings and processes

Quad partners engage regularly through Leaders, Foreign Ministers, Sherpas, senior officials, and experts.

Leaders’ Summits

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

At the 24 May 2022 Summit, leaders acknowledged the progress the Quad had made on existing commitments, including taking action on climate change; supporting regional partners respond to the global COVID-19 pandemic, such as delivering over 670 million safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine doses; addressing cyber security; harnessing critical and emerging technologies; and cooperating on space-related applications and technologies.

Leaders announced further Quad initiatives on health security, climate change, maritime domain awareness, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, cyber, space and infrastructure. Together, leaders officially launched the Quad Fellowship, bringing together a talented cohort of next-generation STEM minds from Quad countries.

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 Statement.

On 24 September 2021, US President Biden hosted the first in-person Quad Leaders’ Summit with former Prime Minister Morrison, Indian Prime Minister Modi and then Japanese Prime Minister Suga in Washington. Leaders issued a Joint Statement and Summit Fact Sheet.

The inaugural virtual Leaders’ Summit was held on 12 March 2021 (13 March AEDT) - see Joint Statement and Summit Fact Sheet.

Leaders have agreed to meet annually.

The Quad leaders’ track is led by Australia’s Quad Sherpa in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Foreign Ministers' Meetings

Quad Leaders’ meetings build on extensive engagement by Quad Foreign Ministers.

On 23 September 2022, Foreign Minister Wong participated in a Quad Foreign Ministers meeting in New York during the United Nations’ General Assembly High Level Week. Foreign Minister Wong met with Indian External Affairs Minister Jaishankar, Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi and US Secretary of State Blinken to deepen Quad cooperation. Foreign Ministers issued a Joint Statement. Ministers also signed guidelines to operationalise the Quad Humanitarian and Disaster Relief (HADR) partnership outlined in this factsheet and issued a statement recognising the harmful effects of Ransomware.

Foreign Minister Wong previously met her Quad counterparts bilaterally when accompanying the Prime Minister to Tokyo for the May 2022 Quad Leaders’ Summit.

Previous 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).

Quad Foreign Ministers exchange views on regional strategic challenges and lead a program of practical cooperation on core regional priorities, including maritime security, countering disinformation, counter-terrorism and humanitarian and disaster relief.

Quad senior officials meet regularly to exchange strategic assessments and progress practical cooperation led by Foreign Ministers.

The Quad foreign ministers’ track is led by Australia’s Quad Senior Official in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Experts’ engagement

Senior Quad experts engage regularly across the breadth of the Quad's practical cooperation agenda.

Key publications

September 2022 Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting – New York

• Joint Statement from Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
• HADR Guidelines Factsheet
• Quad Foreign Ministers’ Statement on Ransomware

Media releases and statements

• Quad Leaders’ Summit May 2022: Joint Statement
• Quad Leaders’ Summit May 2022: Opening Remarks by PM Albanese
• Quad Leaders' Summit March 2022: Joint Statement
• 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
• February 2022 Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
• August 2021 Quad Senior Officials' Meeting
• February 2021 Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting
• December 2020 Quad Senior Officials' Meeting
• October 2020 Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting
• September 2020 Quad Senior Officials' Meeting
• November 2019 Quad Senior Officials' Meeting
• May 2019 Quad Senior Officials' Meeting
• November 2018 Quad Senior Officials' Meeting
• June 2018 Quad Senior Officials' Meeting
• November 2017 Quad Senior Officials' Meeting