Quad meeting plans: Marco Rubio says US working on 2026 Indo-Pacific gathering

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has described the Quad as an important Indo-Pacific alliance and said Washington is working to schedule another meeting in 2026. He indicated it would likely take place alongside a major regional gathering to align leaders’ schedules, following the recent Quad foreign ministers meeting attended by Rubio in India.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said plans were underway for another Quad meeting later in 2025. Rubio said the meeting could be held alongside another global event in the Indo-Pacific region. Rubio described the Quad as an important alliance for the Indo-Pacific. Rubio answered a question from Indian-American Congressman Ami Bera at the US House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Rubio said the group was looking at a leaders-level meeting before the end of 2025. "We expect the leaders meeting...hoping to be able to do one this year, maybe on the sidelines of another global gathering in the region, but nonetheless a meeting,\" Rubio said. \"Not a standalone, but as part of, you know, when theyre all going to be at the same time, and itd be easier. Were working on getting that scheduled,\" the US Secretary of State said.

Quad meeting plans and Indo-Pacific schedule

One possible window comes in November, when the 33rd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation APEC Economic Leaders Meeting is set for Chinas Shenzhen. The schedule also includes the APEC CEO Summit. A joint ministerial meeting of foreign and trade ministers is also planned alongside the APEC leaders event.

Rubio said the Quad had met several times, including a recent foreign ministers meeting in India. \"The Quad, an important alliance in the Indo-Pacific between India, Japan, Australia – weve had multiple meetings of those – of that group, including a meeting just last week in India and a follow-up thats going to occur later this year, including a leaders meeting before the end of the year,\" he said.

Quad outcomes on energy security and maritime surveillance

At the latest meeting, the Quad announced frameworks on energy security and critical minerals. The aim was to reduce supply chain disruptions. The grouping also outlined steps to improve maritime surveillance. It also unveiled measures linked to port infrastructure upgrades across the Indo-Pacific region.

The meeting took place as international attention stayed on Chinas growing military activity in the Indo-Pacific. The Quad includes India, the US, Australia and Japan. The grouping has focused on peace, security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. India hosted the meeting as the current chair of the coalition.

Quad track record and US-India talks

In Wilmington, United States, in 2024, Quad leaders announced steps to expand maritime security cooperation. The previous Quad foreign ministers meeting was held in Washington DC in July last year. Rubio also referred to ongoing US-India talks on trade. \"Indias an important strategic ally of the United States; we do a lot of things together,\" Rubio said.

Rubio said the two sides were close to concluding the bilateral trade negotiations. \"We think were pretty close to getting that done on both sides and want to see it done,\" Rubio said. Rubio also highlighted recent State Department work in a written statement to the Committee. Rubio credited US efforts with helping reduce India-Pakistan tensions.

Rubio wrote that the crisis risked escalating into a wider conflict. \"India and Pakistan were on the verge of an all-out war.\" Rubio said the State Department helped calm the situation. \"The State Department and I personally were involved in de-escalating that conflict and bringing it to an end, a war between two nuclear powers,\" he said.

With India holding the Quad chair, officials continued to work on timelines for the next Quad meeting. Rubio said the preferred option was to meet when leaders were already gathered in the region. A November schedule around the APEC event in Shenzhen may offer such an opportunity. Rubio also linked the Quad agenda with wider security and supply chain concerns.

With inputs from PTI