The Secretary of State of the United States, along with the Foreign Ministers of Australia, India, and Japan, have released a joint statement commemorating 20 years of Quad cooperation. The Quad is a diplomatic network that aims to support a free, open, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
The cooperation began in response to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. This disaster resulted in nearly a quarter million deaths and displaced 1.7 million people across 14 countries. The four nations contributed over 40,000 emergency responders to aid those affected by the catastrophe. "We honor the memories of those no longer with us and recognize the survivors and the families of those who were lost," stated the ministers.
Their commitment to humanitarian assistance remains strong as they continue to work together on disaster preparedness and relief efforts across the Indo-Pacific. In 2024 alone, they supported various life-saving efforts in the region.
What started as an emergency response has developed into a comprehensive partnership addressing challenges such as climate change, cancer, pandemics, infrastructure development, maritime awareness, STEM education, counter-terrorism, technology advancement, and cybersecurity. Since 2021, leaders from these nations have met annually to enhance their contributions across South Asia and Southeast Asia.
"We reaffirm our unwavering support for ASEAN’s centrality and unity as well as mainstreaming and implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific," they noted. Additionally, they expressed respect for Pacific-led regional architecture like the Pacific Islands Forum and support for organizations such as the Indian Ocean Rim Association.
The Quad is committed to responding collectively to future regional needs.
