The Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday, 26 May concluded with member nations — India, the United States, Japan, and Australia — issuing a joint condemnation of terrorism in all its forms, with explicit references to the Pahalgam attack of 22 April 2025 and the Bondi Beach attack of 14 December 2025. The four-nation grouping called for decisive and sustained international efforts to combat terror, including action against globally proscribed entities and their financiers.

Key Declarations on Terrorism

The joint statement released after the meeting was unambiguous: 'We unequivocally condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism and the horrific terrorist attacks perpetrated at Pahalgam in India on 22 April 2025, and Bondi Beach in Australia on 14 December 2025.' The ministers called for action against 'globally proscribed terrorists and terror entities and their proxies, affiliates, sponsors and financiers' in accordance with international law.

The statement further committed the Quad to working with international and regional partners to 'strengthen their capacity to prevent, detect and respond to threats posed by terrorism, violent extremists... and by the use of emerging technologies for terrorist purposes.' This marks a notable expansion of the Quad's counter-terror language, which has historically been more muted on naming specific attacks.

Online Scam Centres and Transnational Crime

Beyond terrorism, the Quad expressed serious concern over the proliferation of online scam centres in Southeast Asia and surrounding regions. The joint statement linked these operations to a broader web of transnational crime, including trafficking in persons, drug trafficking, sexual extortion, illicit financing, and cybercrime. The ministers announced that the grouping will deepen cooperation on law enforcement and regulatory engagement to dismantle such networks.

South China Sea and Indo-Pacific Stability

The ministers reiterated strong opposition to 'destabilising or unilateral actions, including by force or coercion' in the East China Sea and the South China Sea. The statement expressed serious concern over 'dangerous and coercive actions', including interference with offshore resource development, obstruction of freedom of navigation and overflight, and 'dangerous manoeuvres by military aircraft and coast guard and maritime militia vessels' — specifically citing the unsafe use of water cannons, flares, and ramming or blocking actions. The Quad also flagged concern over the militarisation of disputed features.

West Asia, Red Sea, and Strait of Hormuz

Turning to West Asia, the ministers reaffirmed support for ongoing diplomatic efforts and stressed adherence to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) regarding navigational rights. They condemned attacks on commercial shipping vessels and opposed any measures inconsistent with UNCLOS, including the imposition of tolls, emphasising the importance of uninterrupted commerce through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.

Who Attended the Meeting

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar hosted the meeting in New Delhi. He was joined by Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi. The four ministers also agreed to further enhance cooperation and advance concrete initiatives to deliver tangible benefits to the Indo-Pacific region, reiterating their support for a free and open Indo-Pacific.

The meeting signals a sharpening of the Quad's strategic posture — from a largely maritime and economic grouping to one that now explicitly addresses cross-border terrorism, transnational crime, and regional coercion in a single joint framework.