Quad foreign ministers urge decisive, sustained action against terrorism

On 26 May, the foreign ministers of India, the United States, Japan and Australia met in New Delhi and issued a joint statement condemning all forms of terrorism. They called for decisive and continuous international efforts, including stricter enforcement against terrorist individuals, organisations, supporters and funding networks, and pledged to strengthen partner capacities.

The ministers also expressed alarm over the rise of trans‑national online scam centres in Southeast Asia, linking them to human trafficking, drug smuggling, sexual exploitation, illicit financing and cyber crime, and said law‑enforcement and regulatory cooperation would be intensified to curb the threat.

In addition, the Quad highlighted concerns about militarisation and coercive actions in the East and South China Seas, urging respect for the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and regional peace. The statement also referenced recent cross‑border terrorist attacks in India’s Pehlgam (22 April) and Australia’s Bondi Beach (14 December).