Quad FMs announce maritime, energy initiatives amidst Hormuz chokehold, tense South China Sea

Responding to the challenges emanating from the conflict-hit Persian Gulf and the tensions in the South China Sea, the Quad grouping on Tuesday (May 26, 2026) pledged to enhance cooperation in the maritime and energy domains.

At the 11th Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and his counterparts from Australia, Japan, and the United States launched initiatives on energy security, as well as on maritime surveillance and domain awareness to aid in emergency operations and humanitarian responses at sea.

“On the issue of maritime security, there are two big announcements. The first is the launch of the Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Collaboration initiative, which is going to leverage each of our country’s maritime surveillance capabilities in the Indo-Pacific to enhance information sharing,” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at a press conference on the Hyderabad House lawns, where he was joined by Mr. Jaishankar, Japanese FM Toshimitsu Motegi, and Australian FM Penny Wong.

Quad Foreign Ministers meet updates

Second, he said, is the “expansion of the Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness initiative which can provide near real-time commercial maritime domain awareness data to countries throughout the Indo-Pacific region”. Mr. Rubio also announced that India will host the “next iteration of the Quad at Sea mission, which will bring together our respective Coast Guards in one place and one ship”.

The law of the sea

The immediate context of these two initiatives found prominent mention in the joint statement issued at the end of the meeting, which insisted on freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and the South China Sea.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi had said, while visiting New Delhi earlier this month, that the Strait of Hormuz is not part of any international waterway and as a result, Iran has no obligation to comply with the UNCLOS (UN Convention on the Law of the Sea).

The Quad joint statement contradicted the Iranian claim, and condemned attacks on commercial shipping vessels. It called for adherence to the UNCLOS in both the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, where the Iran-backed Houthi militia continues to pose a threat to western shipping, especially against the backdrop of the U.S.-Israel military campaign against Iran that started on February 28.

The grouping also announced the Quad Initiative on Indo-Pacific Energy Security to boost regional energy resilience and emergency response exercises.

‘Safe maritime commerce’

Mr. Jaishankar also hinted at concerns over the continuing chokehold in the Strait of Hormuz and emphasised the need for “safe and unimpeded maritime commerce”. Referring to the growing collaboration in areas like surveillance and domain awareness, logistics networks, undersea cables, training and capacity building, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief activities, he said, “We will be continuing to deepen these areas in the times to come.”

Officials clarified that these initiatives were not aimed at any other regional powers. Later in the day, however, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning addressed the outcomes of the Quad ministerial in New Delhi and reiterated China’s opposition to the “creation of exclusive small cliques”.

The joint statement mentioned that the Quad grouping views the “rule of law” and “international law” as essential for maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific region. “In the midst of conflicts, geopolitical tensions, and strains on global supply chains, we reaffirm that the peace, stability, and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific hinges on upholding international law, and the peaceful resolution of disputes,” it said.

Ms. Wong announced the Quad Ports of the Future Partnership, under which the grouping will launch a pilot project for port infrastructure in Fiji. “I was in Fiji just a couple of weeks ago, and I know how important this will be to that country,” the Australian Foreign Minister said.