U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio hosted his counterparts from the Quad, Indian Foreign Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi, for their second in-person meeting in six months. The high-level diplomatic dialogue took place on July 1, 2025, at the Thomas Jefferson Room in the U.S. Department of State in Washington D.C.

Welcoming the ministers, Secretary Rubio reflected on the significance of the Quad to his tenure. “I’m reminded by my colleagues from India, Australia, and Japan that within an hour of becoming the Secretary of State of the United States, this was my first meeting,” he said, adding, “So we like to do these every six months… we’re honored to host them here today in this very important partnership that has developed over the years and that I think has really taken wing in the last few months, and that we want to continue to build on.”

Underscoring the strategic importance of the partnership, Secretary Rubio said the participating nations are “very important strategic partners and allies of the United States,” and emphasized shared priorities “We have a lot of shared priorities – a lot of things we care about in the world.”

He added “I think there are many global problems but also problems that we face in our respective countries that can be solved by us cooperating together.” 

He noted the need for the Quad to evolve from dialogue to action. “The next step in this great partnership is to actually begin to see concrete actions and steps being taken in conjunction with one another, in coordination with one another, in partnership with one another for the benefit of our respective countries and ultimately of many other countries in the world,” he said.

Rubio also stressed that the Quad’s agenda extends beyond security. “It’s largely, in many cases, about economic development,” he said, highlighting a business roundtable later that day featuring 30 to 40 companies operating in or with ties to the Quad nations.

One of the areas he emphasized was critical minerals, noting “One that I’ve personally been very focused on is diversifying the global supply chain of critical minerals – not just access to the raw material but also access to the ability to process and refine it to useable material.” He added, calling it “critical for all technologies and for all industries across the board.”

Secretary Rubio encouraged the Quad to become a forum for tangible outcomes, remarking that while the U.S. has strong bilateral ties with each of the three countries, it is essential to use the Quad framework to take joint action on priority issues.

Turning to the visiting ministers, Rubio remarked on their busy travel schedules, joking to Minister Jaishankar, “I’ve seen him a number of times now in just six months on the job,” adding “Every time I see, he’s somewhere else in the world. He’s been very busy…” To Foreign Minister Iwaya, he said “I’ve in fact, seen you more than my own children.”

In his remarks, India’s Foreign Minister Jaishankar thanked Secretary Rubio for hosting the meeting and reaffirmed India’s commitment to a “free and open Indo-Pacific.” He said, “To that end, our endeavors are devoted to promoting a rules-based international order. It is essential that nations of the Indo-Pacific have the freedom of choice so essential to make right decisions on development and security.”

He noted significant progress by the Quad in the areas of “maritime domain, logistics, education, and political coordination,” and called the platform one for “deepening convergence and expanding common ground.”

Referring to the recent experience of terrorism in India, Minister Jaishankar stressed the need for “zero tolerance,” adding that victims and perpetrators must never be equated. “India has every right to defend its people against terrorism – and will exercise that right,” he said, expressing confidence that Quad partners would “understand and appreciate that.”

India is expected to host the next Quad Summit later this year, and Jaishankar noted that the group would be discussing proposals to ensure a productive agenda.

Minister Jaishankar also had bilateral meetings with his counterparts Secretary Rubio, Foreign Minister Wong, and Foreign Minister Takeshi.

Australia’s Foreign Minister Wong reiterated the urgency of the group’s collaboration. “We understand how important this partnership is. It is such an important partnership for the world, it’s such an important partnership for our region, it’s such an important partnership for the countries represented,” she said, adding that the world faces growing strategic competition and instability.

Citing Secretary Rubio’s confirmation testimony, she said Australia agrees that “the future of the 21st century [is] being shaped in this region.”

“These four countries represent nearly a quarter of the world’s population and over a third of global GDP,” she said. “We are independent, sovereign nations… and we also know this: that we are stronger when we work together.”

She pointed to recent examples of coordinated Quad action, such as responding to earthquakes in Myanmar, and called for continued cooperation on technology, supply chains, and maritime security.

Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi emphasized the frequency of the meetings as a testament to the group’s solidarity. “The fact that we are meeting in Washington D.C. in just six months demonstrates the strength of the unity and the importance of the Quad,” he said.

He pointed out that the Indo-Pacific region, home to more than half the world’s population, is the engine of global economic growth. “Peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region are essential for the prosperity of [the] international community,” he said, noting that the four Quad nations have a vital role in safeguarding regional stability.

On the sidelines of the Quad, Minister Jaishankar also met with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon. The two leaders had a “productive conversation on advancing the U.S.-India Defense partnership, building on growing convergences of interests, capabilities and responsibilities.”

India’s Defense Minster Rajnath Singh and Secretary Hegseth also held a telephonic conversation on July 1. “The two leaders discussed a wide canvas of issues ranging from long-term cooperation in the defense sector, including training and military exchanges, to expanding the industry collaboration,” added a statement from Embassy of India. “They agreed to further build upon the momentum of this critical & mutually beneficial partnership across all its pillars such as interoperability, integration of defense industrial supply chains, logistics sharing, increased joint military exercises and cooperation with other like-minded partners.”  

Related posts:

Indian American Republicans Welcome President-elect Trump’s Pick of Marco Rubio as Secretary of State  Foreign Minister Jaishankar Reflects on President Trump’s Inauguration, Highlights US-India Cooperation, Visa Issues, and Quad Priorities S. Jaishankar to Attend Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Washington DC, Inaugurate Anti-Terror Exhibition at UN Japan’s Consul-General in Perth Reaffirms Quad Vision: Friendship, Prosperity, and a Free Indo-Pacific