The Quad Foreign Ministers met in Manila on Wednesday on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, with the United States signalling that the four-nation grouping remains central to its Indo-Pacific strategy despite continuing uncertainty over a leaders’ summit.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar joined US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi for the meeting, the second gathering of Quad foreign ministers in less than two months after their talks in New Delhi.
Describing the meeting as one where he had “reconvened” the Quad, Rubio said the grouping “remains a priority” for Washington and announced that the foreign ministers would meet again later this year, possibly on the sidelines of the G20 meetings in Florida.
The announcement comes amid questions over whether the Quad has lost momentum during President Donald Trump’s second term. While the foreign ministers have now met twice this year and a third meeting has been announced, there is still no indication of when the four leaders will meet next.
Always good to see my friend, Indian External Affairs Minister @DrSJaishankar on the sidelines of ASEAN.
We discussed regional security issues, the Quad, trade, and defense agreements. Our relationship with India is vitally important. pic.twitter.com/Ji7umqLO7K
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) July 22, 2026
The Manila meeting is widely seen as an effort by Washington to reassure its partners that the Quad remains at the heart of US Indo-Pacific policy after months in which American attention appeared focused on West Asia and managing relations with China.
In a joint statement, India, the United States, Australia and Japan reaffirmed their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific while emphasising ASEAN’s central role in the regional architecture.
The four Quad members pledged closer cooperation on maritime security, critical and emerging technologies, supply chain resilience, humanitarian assistance and economic security, while reaffirming their “unwavering support for ASEAN unity and centrality.”
Rubio said the Quad partners shared “a vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific that is grounded in the rule of law, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.”
Jaishankar said the ministers reviewed developments across the Indo-Pacific and followed up on decisions taken during their recent meeting in New Delhi.
“Glad to participate in the Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting in Manila. Reviewed the Indo-Pacific landscape and discussed recent developments. Followed up on the outcomes of the recent New Delhi meeting. Committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific with a recognition of ASEAN centrality,” he posted on X.
On the sidelines of the ASEAN meetings, Jaishankar also held bilateral talks with Rubio on trade, tariffs, defence, energy, critical minerals and artificial intelligence under the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. The two leaders also exchanged views on regional and global developments, including the situation in West Asia.
Jaishankar separately met Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong to review the outcomes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Australia, which produced a series of agreements aimed at strengthening the India-Australia partnership.
Although the Quad’s ministerial engagements are becoming more frequent, the absence of any announcement on a leaders’ summit continues to raise questions about when the grouping’s highest-level political engagement will resume.
