Quad remains ‘vital’, says Japanese foreign minister, dismissing concerns over importance of Indo-Pacific grouping

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi. | Photo credit: Special arrangement

The Quad remains a “vital framework”, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said, responding to concerns that the four-nation grouping had lost its relevance, and hinted in an interview that “Cooperation on critical minerals” needed for green energy and hi-tech would be high on the agenda of the Quadrilateral Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (FMM) on May 25 (May 25). Japan is working on critical mineral projects in India, Mr. Motegi also said, but called for better infrastructure, more tax subsidies and protection of intellectual property rights.

Hosted by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and attended by Mr Motegi, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, the Quad meeting is expected to review the Iran conflict, the Strait of Hormuz blockade and US President Donald Trump’s visit to China this month, as well as set the agenda for the Quad-India summit, which has not been held since the 20th issue.

Published – 24 May 2026 19:27 IST