image sourced from original article at Foreign ministers from India, Australia, Japan and the United States are meeting in New Delhi to discuss critical minerals, maritime security and energy concerns amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia. The talks, hosted by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, will also address the impact of tensions in West Asia on shipping routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, and broader implications for freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific region. The ministers are scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the visit.
The meeting builds on discussions held in Washington in July 2025, where the four nations reaffirmed their commitment to a Free and Open Indo-Pacific and agreed to focus on maritime and transnational security, economic security, critical and emerging technology, and humanitarian assistance. The group has also voiced strong opposition to unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force in the East China Sea and South China Sea.
According to the Observer Research Foundation, the partnership is facing a challenging period marked by stalled summit plans, trade tensions and strategic disagreements. The visit of United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio is seen as an opportunity to reset ties and restore momentum, with analysts emphasizing the need for stronger diplomatic backing and coordination to overcome recent strains.
