Washington DC: July 1, 2025: We, the Secretary of State of the United States and the Foreign Ministers of Australia, India, and Japan, met in Washington, D.C., on July 1, 2025, to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. We underscore the importance of upholding the rule of law, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. As four leading maritime nations in the Indo-Pacific, we stand united in our conviction that peace and stability in the maritime domain are foundational to the region’s security and prosperity. We oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion and support a region where all nations are free from intimidation and pressure.
2. We discussed the evolving opportunities and challenges in the Indo-Pacific and how the Quad can further harness its collective strengths to advance peace, security, and prosperity. In line with this goal, we are pleased to announce a robust and forward-looking agenda centered on four key pillars: maritime and transnational security, economic prosperity and security, critical and emerging technologies, and humanitarian assistance and emergency response. This strategic alignment will enhance the Quad’s ability to address the region’s most urgent and enduring challenges.
3. As we work toward shared goals, we reaffirm our steadfast support for ASEAN centrality and unity, the Pacific Islands Forum and Pacific-led regional mechanisms, and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). These partnerships remain vital to our vision for an inclusive and resilient Indo-Pacific.
4. We remain seriously concerned by developments in the East China Sea and South China Sea. We strongly oppose any unilateral actions aimed at altering the status quo through force or coercion. We are alarmed by dangerous and provocative behavior, including interference with offshore resource development, obstruction of lawful maritime activities, and hazardous actions by military aircraft and maritime vessels—particularly the unsafe use of water cannons, ramming, and blocking maneuvers in the South China Sea. These actions jeopardize regional peace and stability. We stress the importance of freedom of navigation and overflight, lawful use of the sea, and unimpeded commerce in accordance with international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). We reaffirm that all maritime disputes must be resolved peacefully and reiterate that the July 12, 2016, Arbitral Tribunal ruling is a significant milestone and a vital basis for peaceful dispute resolution.
5. We are deeply concerned by increasing disruptions and future uncertainties in critical supply chains, particularly those involving critical minerals. We oppose the use of non-market practices, coercive tactics, and restrictive policies in the mining, processing, and trade of these vital resources. A diversified and resilient global supply chain is crucial. Over-reliance on any single country exposes industries to economic coercion, market manipulation, and strategic vulnerabilities that undermine both economic and national security.
6. We unequivocally condemn North Korea’s destabilizing ballistic missile launches and ongoing pursuit of nuclear weapons in direct violation of multiple UN Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs). We reaffirm our commitment to the complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, consistent with relevant UNSCRs. We also express grave concern about North Korea’s malicious cyber activities, including cryptocurrency theft and the use of overseas workers to fund its unlawful weapons programs. We call on all UN Member States to fulfill their legal obligations, including arms transfer bans and sanctions enforcement. We further express deep concern over countries increasing military cooperation with North Korea, which threatens the global nonproliferation regime. The immediate resolution of the abductions issue remains essential.
7. We are deeply alarmed by the worsening crisis in Myanmar and its regional consequences. We urge the regime to fulfill its commitment to a ceasefire and call on all parties to implement, extend, and broaden ceasefire arrangements. We reaffirm strong support for ASEAN’s leadership, particularly the full and effective implementation of the Five-Point Consensus. We call for the safe and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian assistance. We are also concerned about the crisis’s role in facilitating transnational crime and are committed to tackling cybercrime and online scam operations.
8. The Quad resolutely condemns terrorism and violent extremism in all forms, including cross-border terrorism. We remain committed to strengthening counterterrorism cooperation. We strongly condemn the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, 2025, which claimed the lives of 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen and injured many others. We extend our deepest condolences to the victims’ families and wish a full recovery to the injured. We call for the perpetrators, organizers, and financiers of this heinous act to be brought to justice without delay. We urge all UN Member States to fulfill their legal obligations and cooperate with relevant authorities in accordance with international law and UNSCRs.
9. In response to these challenges, we are proud to announce key initiatives aimed at strengthening the Quad’s impact in the Indo-Pacific. Today, we launch the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative, aimed at securing and diversifying supply chains for critical minerals. We are expanding cooperation in maritime law enforcement through regional training programs, legal dialogues, and Coast Guard partnerships. The first Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network Field Training Exercise will be held this year to improve disaster response capacity and logistics coordination. We are also launching the Quad Ports of the Future Partnership in Mumbai to enhance regional connectivity and resilience. Collectively, we have contributed over USD $30 million in humanitarian assistance to support communities affected by the March 2025 earthquake in central Myanmar. We remain united in countering foreign efforts to spread disinformation and disrupt Quad priorities in the Indo-Pacific.
10. As the Quad evolves, our four democracies reaffirm our shared commitment to deepening cooperation in support of a free, open, inclusive, and resilient Indo-Pacific. We look forward to the next Quad Leaders’ Summit, to be hosted by India later this year, and the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in 2026, to be hosted by Australia.
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