The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) is a strategic forum of India, the United States, Japan and Australia, aimed at promoting a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.Its origins go back to the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, when the four countries coordinated relief and assistance. The first officials’ meeting was held on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum in the Philippines in May 2007. After a gap of nearly ten years, QUAD officials met again in Manila in November 2017, on the margins of the East Asia Summit.
| Year/Date | Summit | Venue/Mode | Host/Chair | Key Point |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 March 2021 | 1st QUAD Leaders’ Summit | Virtual | — | First leaders-level QUAD summit |
| 24 September 2021 | 2nd QUAD Leaders’ Summit | Washington, D.C. | United States | First in-person QUAD Leaders’ Summit |
| 3 March 2022 | 3rd QUAD Leaders’ Summit | Virtual | — | Discussion included Ukraine situation and Indo-Pacific impact |
| 24 May 2022 | 4th QUAD Leaders’ Summit | Japan | Japan | Second in-person summit |
| 20 May 2023 | 5th QUAD Leaders’ Summit | Hiroshima, Japan | Japan | Third in-person summit |
| 21 September 2024 | 6th QUAD Leaders’ Summit | Wilmington, Delaware, USA | United States / President Joe Biden | PM Modi participated with leaders of US, Japan and Australia |
| 2025 | Next QUAD Summit | India | India | India agreed to host next QUAD Summit |
| First quarter of 2026 | Expected QUAD Leaders’ meeting | India likely | India | Australian PM hoped leaders would meet in first quarter of 2026 |
Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the sixth QUAD Leaders’ Summit at Archmere Academy, Wilmington, Delaware, hosted by US President Joe Biden. Leaders present included PM Modi, President Joe Biden, Australian PM Anthony Albanese, and Japanese PM Fumio Kishida.PM Modi described QUAD as a “force for global good” and said that the message was clear: “QUAD is here to stay, to assist, to partner and to complement.” He stressed that QUAD is not against any country, but stands for a rules-based international order, respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, and a free, open, inclusive and prosperous Indo-Pacific.The 2024 summit also had a symbolic importance because it was a farewell summit for both President Joe Biden and Japanese PM Fumio Kishida.
The 2024 summit focused on practical cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. Important areas included maritime security, health security, digital public infrastructure, semiconductor supply chains, space cooperation, port infrastructure, and disaster response.A major announcement was the Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission for 2025, aimed at improving cooperation among Coast Guards. The leaders also announced the MAITRI initiative — Maritime Initiative for Training in the Indo-Pacific, to help Indo-Pacific partners monitor and secure their waters.QUAD also announced a Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network pilot project for shared airlift capacity during civilian disaster response. In technology, a Semiconductor Supply Chains Contingency Network Memorandum of Cooperation was signed to strengthen supply-chain resilience.
India announced important contributions in health, climate, technology and capacity building. PM Modi announced $7.5 million support for cancer detection tools, sampling kits and vaccines. India also committed $10 million to the WHO’s Global Initiative on Digital Health for capacity building in Digital Public Infrastructure for cancer care.India also announced $2 million for solar projects in Fiji, Comoros, Madagascar and Seychelles. A new scholarship category was announced for Indo-Pacific students to pursue four-year engineering programmes in Government of India-funded technical institutes. India also committed to hosting a workshop on sustainable and resilient port infrastructure with CDRI.
In August 2025, PM Modi visited Japan for the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit with Japanese PM Shigeru Ishiba. QUAD was described as an important platform in the agenda of talks.Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that QUAD is important for promoting peace, stability, prosperity and development in the Indo-Pacific region. He highlighted cooperation in health, critical and emerging technologies, critical minerals, resilient supply chains, and infrastructure development.During the Japan visit, India and Japan were also expected to focus on economic security, semiconductor cooperation, artificial intelligence, space, defence cooperation, and the bullet train project.
The 10th QUAD Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was held on 1 July 2025 in Washington D.C., USA. The participating countries were India, the United States, Japan and Australia.Its key objective was advancing a free, open, inclusive and rules-based Indo-Pacific. A major outcome was the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative, aimed at strengthening economic security and supply-chain resilience by focusing on diversification of critical mineral supply chains, e-waste recovery and private-sector coordination.The meeting also highlighted MAITRI, HADR cooperation, and regional health preparedness. India hosted a Pandemic Preparedness Workshop in March 2025 with participation from 15 Indo-Pacific countries.
India was expected to host the QUAD Summit in 2025, but reports indicated delays due to India–US tensions over trade and other issues. The US imposed 50% tariffs on Indian goods, creating strain in India–US relations.Reports also mentioned uncertainty over whether President Donald Trump would visit India for the QUAD Summit. Later, US officials said planning was underway and the summit could happen later in 2025 or early 2026.
In October 2025, Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held her first conversation with PM Modi. The discussion focused on QUAD, economic cooperation, defence cooperation, and mobility of professionals.Japan reiterated its commitment to work with India for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, including through Japan-Australia-India-US QUAD. However, there was still no clarity on the final dates of the delayed QUAD Summit.
QUAD has evolved from tsunami relief coordination into a major Indo-Pacific strategic platform. Its present focus is not only security, but also health security, critical minerals, semiconductors, resilient supply chains, maritime domain awareness, DPI, space applications, HADR, and infrastructure resilience.For India, QUAD strengthens its Act East Policy, supports its role in the Indian Ocean, and helps promote a free, open, inclusive and rules-based Indo-Pacific.