Secretary of State Marco Rubio convened a meeting with foreign ministers from Australia, India, and Japan in Washington. The gathering was part of the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting aimed at reinforcing their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region. During the meeting, the officials declared the launch of the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative. This initiative seeks to bolster economic security by diversifying critical mineral supply chains.
Secretary Rubio held separate discussions with each minister to enhance bilateral cooperation. In talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi, Rubio highlighted the importance of the U.S.-Japan Alliance for regional peace and prosperity, while exploring further collaboration in security and energy sectors.
In a meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Secretary Rubio emphasized the robust U.S.-India relationship. He noted progress on implementing the U.S.-India COMPACT, which aims to enhance collaboration on various issues including trade, defense, energy, and countering illegal activities.
With Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Secretary Rubio discussed strengthening cooperation through the U.S.-Australia Alliance. Their conversation focused on enhancing security in the Indo-Pacific and developing secure critical mineral supply chains.
Spokesperson Tammy Bruce stated that "as a proud Indo-Pacific nation," the United States remains committed to working closely with its Quad partners to safeguard shared interests in the region.
