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.

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, then 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 then Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan, to Wilmington, Delaware for the 2024 Quad Leaders’ Summit.

Leaders released the 2024 Quad Leaders' Joint Statement , outlining a suite of initiatives in key sectors 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 then Prime Minister Kishida, and then 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 then Prime Minister Kishida hosted the second in-person Quad Leaders' Summit with Prime Minister Albanese, India's Prime Minister Modi and then US President Biden. 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, then 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.

The next Quad Leaders' Summit is due to be held in India in 2025.

For further information, 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 regional priorities, including maritime security, countering disinformation, counter-terrorism, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

Quad Foreign Ministers met in Washington on 21 January 2025. Foreign Minister Wong met with newly appointed US Secretary of State Rubio, India's External Affairs Minister Jaishankar and Japan's Foreign Minister Iwaya. Quad Foreign Ministers affirmed their steadfast commitment to the Quad and issued a Joint Statement.

Prior to this, Quad Foreign Ministers last met in Tokyo on 29 July 2024. Foreign Minister Wong met with then US Secretary of State Blinken, India's External Affairs Minister Jaishankar and Japan's then Foreign Minister Kamikawa. Quad ministers released a Joint Statement and Australia announced the launch of the Cable Connectivity and Resilience Centre.

Quad Foreign Ministers have met at least annually since 2019 to exchange views and drive cooperation on key regional strategic challenges. Earlier Quad Foreign Ministers Meetings were held on 22 September 2023 (New York), 3 March 2023 (including a panel event at the Raisina Dialogue) (India), 23 September 2022 (New York), 11 February 2022 (Melbourne), 18 February 2021 (virtual meeting), 6 October 2020 (Tokyo), and 26 September 2019 (New York).

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 2024 (virtual meeting).

Key publications

January 2025 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting – Washington

January 2025 Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting: Joint Statement

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

• Joint Statement from the Quad Foreign Ministers Commemorating the 20th Anniversary of Quad Cooperation 
• 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