The foreign ministers of the Quad countries – India, Australia, Japan, and the United States – are set to meet in Tokyo, Japan on July 28, 2024. This will be the first gathering of Quad foreign ministers since their last meeting on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2023.
The meeting aims to take stock of initiatives and projects in diverse fields, review the situation across the Indo-Pacific region, and prepare for the upcoming Quad Summit. The foreign ministers are expected to discuss several key issues, including:
China’s Aggressive Actions
The foreign ministers are likely to focus on China’s continuing aggressive actions across the Indo-Pacific region, particularly in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait. They are expected to emphasize the importance of free passage in the high seas.
Regional Security Challenges
The ministers will review the situation in the South China Sea, the ongoing tensions between China and the Philippines in the Scarborough Shoal, and the reactions of small Pacific islands to Beijing’s aggressive behavior. They will also discuss concerns over North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs.
Practical Cooperation
The foreign ministers will review the progress made by various Quad working groups since the Quad Summit in May 2023 and discuss new ideas to take forward the group’s collaboration in the Indo-Pacific. This includes enhancing maritime domain awareness, countering terrorism, improving telecommunication resiliency through undersea cable connectivity, health security, digital public infrastructure, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
Preparations for Quad Summit
The meeting will also lay the groundwork for the upcoming Quad Summit, which is likely to be held in India after the U.S. presidential election in November 2024. The exact date for the summit is still uncertain, as it depends on the availability of the U.S. administration, which is currently focused on the presidential election.
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Before the Tokyo meeting, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will attend the India-ASEAN and East Asia Summit (EAS) foreign ministers’ gathering in Laos. This will provide an opportunity for initial meetings with his counterparts from the U.S., Japan, and Australia.
The Quad foreign ministers’ meeting in Tokyo coincides with Japan-U.S. discussions involving foreign and defense ministers. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin recently announced plans to upgrade U.S. forces’ command structure in Japan.