Quad ministers agree on joint Fiji port, critical minerals framework and maritime surveillance

Foreign ministers of the United States, India, Japan and Australia met in New Delhi on 26 May 2026, chaired by India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. The ministers said the Quad would focus on “connectivity choke points”, supply‑chain resilience and “critical infrastructure” in the Indo‑Pacific.

They announced three concrete initiatives: a joint port‑construction project in Fiji to boost Pacific‑Island capacity; a critical‑minerals framework – signed bilaterally by India and the United States – covering mining, processing, recycling and financing to reduce reliance on China; and an Indo‑Pacific maritime‑surveillance collaboration that will share near‑real‑time data across strategic sea lanes.

The grouping also launched an energy‑security programme and reiterated opposition to any tolls or restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz, calling for the waterway to remain “open without tolls”. A joint statement expressed concern over China’s activities in the South and East China Seas and affirmed the Quad’s commitment to a “free and open Indo‑Pacific”.