Quad nations to work on stable energy, critical minerals
The foreign ministers of Japan, Australia, India, and the United States agreed on Tuesday to establish initiatives aimed at securing stable supplies of energy and critical materials as the four democracies sought to strengthen coordination amid China’s assertive behavior.
Based on the initiative on critical minerals, the four nations intend to “mobilize up to $20 billion in government and private sector support through new and existing efforts” to strengthen supply chains, including in mining, processing, and recycling, according to a joint statement issued after the meeting.
The agreement was reached during a gathering in New Delhi as the Quad grouping also expressed strong opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi told a joint press announcement after the meeting.
Motegi, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also laid the groundwork for the next Quad summit, although no date has yet been decided.
Less emphasis
The previous Quad summit was held in September 2024, and no leaders’ meeting has taken place since the launch of the second administration of US President Donald Trump, who has placed less emphasis on multilateral diplomacy.
The foreign ministers discussed closer cooperation on energy security as tensions in the Middle East continue to raise concerns over fuel supplies and prices.
The Quad grouping has been regarded as part of Washington’s strategy to counter China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
Serious concerns
The Quad countries also agreed to cooperate on port infrastructure development in the Pacific island nation of Fiji.
Motegi said the ministers shared serious concerns over export restrictions on critical minerals, as China has tightened controls on rare earth exports.
In response to the gathering of the four countries’ top diplomats, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said, “We do not support exclusive small blocs or bloc confrontation,” adding, “we believe that state-to-state cooperation should be conducive to regional peace, stability, and prosperity, and should not target any third party.”
Tuesday’s gathering was the third Quad foreign ministers’ meeting since the launch of the second Trump administration.
