The foreign ministers of the Quad countries—India, Australia, Japan and the US—said on Tuesday that the group will work together to address the region's future needs. The delegation highlighted key areas of cooperation, including maritime security, counterterrorism and emerging technologies, as they marked 20 years of collaboration. 

The Quad was formed through the efforts of the Indian government, led by the late former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, to work together with Australia, Japan and the US in responding to the aftermath of the Indian Ocean tsunami on December 26, 2004. Another key figure in forming the group was the late former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who emphasised the importance of India and Japan in bringing together the Indian and Pacific Oceans while speaking to the Indian Parliament in 2007. From its first gathering at the level of senior officials, the Quad has since been promoted to the level of foreign ministers in 2019 and leaders in 2021.

“The Quad is committed to working together in responding to the future needs of the region,” said a joint statement from Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. “Quad countries now work together and with partners across the Indo-Pacific to address complex challenges, from fighting climate change, cancer, and pandemics, to bolstering quality infrastructure, maritime domain awareness, STEM education, counter-terrorism efforts, critical and emerging technologies, and cyber security,” read the statement. What started out as an emergency response to a disaster has "grown into a full-fledged partnership delivering positive outcomes for the people of our region," according to the foreign ministers.

Although the members of the Quad often state that their goal is to promote a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific, many of their actions are focused on countering China's aggressive behaviour. They aim to provide countries in the region with alternatives to China’s Belt and Road Initiative and other projects, which have led some nations into a "debt trap." Chinese diplomats have even called the Quad an attempt to establish an "Asian NATO" and have lodged formal diplomatic protests with its members in recent years. However, the leaders of the four nations have been gathering yearly since 2021 to "drive the Quad's positive contributions across South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific," according to the joint statement.

The members of the Quad reaffirmed their "unwavering support" for the execution of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific as well as for ASEAN's unity and centrality. “As four partners, we share a vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific that is peaceful, stable, and prosperous, underpinned by effective regional institutions,” the statement said. “We respect Pacific-led regional architecture, foremost the Pacific Islands Forum. We are also steadfast in our support for the Indian Ocean Rim Association, the region’s premier organisation,” the statement said. The foreign ministers also emphasised that the Quad originated as a response to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. They noted that Australia, India, Japan, and the US came together for the first time as the group now known as the Quad to help the people of the region. They also paid tribute to those who are no longer with us and acknowledged the survivors and the families of those who were lost.

The tsunami was one of the deadliest disasters in history, taking almost a quarter of a million lives and forcing 1.7 million people to leave their homes across 14 countries. “Together our four countries contributed over 40,000 emergency responders, working with other partners across the Indo-Pacific region to support millions of people affected by the catastrophe,” the statement said. The Quad members added that they were still steadfast in their core commitment to disaster relief and humanitarian aid. “We continue to work side-by-side to prepare for and respond quickly and effectively to disasters across the region. In 2024, our four countries collectively supported disaster preparedness and life-saving relief efforts across the Indo-Pacific, and we continue to build on those efforts to identify new ways to respond rapidly to humanitarian crises and disasters,” the statement said.