Rubio to convene Quad foreign ministers as Manila summit looms

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to host a meeting with his counterparts from Australia, India and Japan on Saturday, underscoring Washington's commitment to the Quad partnership in the Indo-Pacific region. The diplomatic engagement represents the fourth-largest economies' third ministerial gathering in 2024, reflecting the grouping's expanding prominence in regional affairs.

The meeting follows intensifying efforts to deepen cooperation among the four nations on security, economic and technological issues. The Quad has emerged as a key mechanism for coordinating policy responses to regional challenges, with members emphasising shared democratic values and commitment to a rules-based international order.

Saturday's talks will serve as a preparatory session for a full leaders' summit scheduled for Manila next month. Organisers are expected to use the foreign ministers' meeting to finalise the agenda and coordinate positions ahead of the more formal gathering of the four countries' top political leadership.

The diplomatic momentum reflects broader strategic recalibrations in the Indo-Pacific as major powers seek to strengthen regional partnerships. The Quad's expanding schedule of high-level meetings signals its transition from an ad-hoc grouping to an institutionalised mechanism for regional coordination.