The US State Department announced on Thursday (June 26) that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will host the 2025 Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday (July 1), inviting counterparts from India, Australia, and Japan to attend. The State Department stated that this meeting will continue the diplomatic efforts earlier this year, showcasing the US commitment and strength in leading Indo-Pacific affairs.
This Quad Security Dialogue consists of the United States, India, Japan, and Australia, with member countries holding a united stance on upholding freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific region and countering the expansion of Chinese influence.
In a press conference, State Department Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott mentioned that Rubio’s first diplomatic action after taking office in January was hosting the Quad meeting, and this upcoming summit in July is a continuation of that diplomatic process, aiming to promote a “free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific region.” He emphasized that this meeting demonstrates the US global leadership in “strength, peace, and prosperity.”
On January 22 this year, Rubio’s first day in office saw him hosting the Quad meeting as a sign of the mechanism’s importance. The dialogue was also seen as a signal of the Trump administration’s prioritization of the Indo-Pacific strategy in its second term.
Following the meeting, the foreign ministers of the four countries issued a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region and stressing the need to “protect and defend sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
The statement explicitly opposed “any unilateral attempts to change the status quo through the use of force or coercion,” evidently countering China’s recent expansionist actions near the East China Sea, South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait.
The focus of the upcoming meeting will be on enhancing coordination among the four countries and reaffirming the strategic vision of “advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific region” together.
This Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting also serves as preparation for the later Quad Leaders’ Summit scheduled to be held in India this year.
In early June, Indian Deputy Foreign Minister Vikram Misri confirmed that during the G7 summit in Canada, US President Trump accepted Indian Prime Minister Modi’s invitation to visit India and expressed eagerness for the Quad Leaders’ Meeting.
Observers are closely watching whether the two upcoming Quad meetings can further strengthen the cooperation between the United States and its allies.
With the US government allocating more diplomatic resources to the Middle East crisis and the Ukraine conflict, there is a perception that the US has reduced its focus on and investment in the Indo-Pacific region.
Furthermore, the US’s request for Japan to increase defense spending and its scrutiny of the AUKUS submarine project could potentially lead to disagreements between allies and Washington.
The US State Department has not explicitly stated with which countries Rubio will hold bilateral meetings during the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.