Washington, D.C. – July 1, 2025 – In a significant display of regional cooperation, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio hosted Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi in Washington today for the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.
The officials, who gathered at the State Department, reaffirmed their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region, vowing to work together to promote peace, security, and prosperity. The meeting marked an important step forward in strengthening economic ties between the United States and its key partners in the Asia-Pacific.
Quad Critical Minerals Initiative Launched
The Quad foreign ministers announced the launch of the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative, a new initiative aimed at securing and diversifying critical mineral supply chains. This ambitious expansion of their partnership is designed to bolster economic security and collective resilience in the face of growing global competition.
Secretary Rubio emphasized the significance of this new initiative, stating that “the United States will continue to deepen cooperation with Quad partners to protect our shared interests in the region.” The launch of the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative represents a major milestone in the U.S. government’s efforts to promote economic stability and security in the Indo-Pacific.
Bilateral Cooperation Explored
In meetings with each of the foreign ministers, Secretary Rubio explored opportunities for deeper bilateral cooperation. With Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya, he emphasized the importance of the U.S.-Japan Alliance in promoting peace and prosperity in the region.
- In his meeting with External Affairs Minister Jaishankar, Secretary Rubio highlighted the strength of the U.S.-India relationship, which will be enhanced through implementation of the U.S.-India COMPACT.
- The Secretary also met separately with Foreign Minister Wong to discuss cooperation on building secure critical mineral supply chains and enhancing security in the Indo-Pacific.
As a proud Indo-Pacific nation, the United States will continue to deepen its relationships with Quad partners to protect our shared interests in the region. The launch of the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative marks an important step forward in this effort.
Closing Remarks
In concluding remarks, Secretary Rubio emphasized the importance of regional cooperation and the benefits that can be achieved through partnership and collaboration. He stated, “The United States is committed to working with our Quad partners to promote peace, security, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.”