Rubio hosts Indo-Pacific quad meeting as tariffs and tensions test ties

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio convened his counterparts from India, Japan, and Australia on Tuesday for a high-stakes meeting of the Indo-Pacific Quad, aiming to reaffirm the group's commitment to countering China’s influence in the region.

Despite shared concerns over China's growing assertiveness, the summit was shadowed by economic frictions, particularly stemming from President Donald Trump’s sweeping global tariff regime, which has impacted even close allies within the Quad.

‘Very Productive’ Meeting Amid Strains

India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar described the meeting as “very productive,” asserting that it would “strengthen strategic stability in the Indo-Pacific and keep it free and open.” The Quad nations reiterated their commitment to cooperation in areas such as regional security, critical minerals supply chains, and economic resilience.

Rubio emphasized that it was time to move from words to action. “The Quad is a strategic partnership, and we need to deliver tangible outcomes,” he said. A meeting involving 30–40 companies from the four countries was also held at the U.S. State Department to explore collaboration on critical mineral diversification, a market currently dominated by China.

Trade Tensions Simmer Beneath Surface

The summit comes as India and the U.S. work to finalize a deal to lower tariffs on American goods and avert steep levies set to take effect next week. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent expressed optimism, and Jaishankar acknowledged a “give and take” would be required to bridge the gaps.

Meanwhile, Japan postponed a key ministerial meeting with the U.S. amid dissatisfaction with Washington's pressure to further increase its defense spending—despite a highly publicized February summit where President Trump and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba declared a “golden age” of bilateral ties.

Nicholas Szechenyi of the Center for Strategic and International Studies noted that U.S.-Japan relations had lost momentum and warned that the administration’s focus on tariffs and defense costs had frustrated Tokyo.

Broader Strategic Alignment Under Stress

Australia, another vital Quad member, has its own set of concerns, especially around Washington’s review of the AUKUS nuclear submarine agreement. Former ambassador Arthur Sinodinos said Australians would be watching closely for signs of U.S. clarity on both defense and trade issues.

Despite these challenges, Rubio held separate bilateral meetings with each foreign minister, and Jaishankar also met with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon. The two discussed advancing U.S.-India defense sales and co-production initiatives.

Diplomacy Over Discord?

The Quad leaders attempted to present a united front, but longstanding issues remain unresolved. India pushed back against Trump’s claim that U.S. threats ended the recent flare-up with Pakistan, reiterating that trade was not a factor in the Kashmir ceasefire. Still, Jaishankar said what mattered was “the ability to deal with [differences] and to keep that trend going in the positive direction.”

As the Indo-Pacific Quad looks toward a leaders’ summit later this year in India, the ability of these four democracies to manage internal tensions while maintaining a coordinated regional strategy will be tested like never before.

Copied