Quad reaffirms commitment to free and open Indo-Pacific

The Quad nations - India, Australia, Japan and the US - in a joint statement on their 20th anniversary on Tuesday reaffirmed their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region and the pivotal role of southeast Asian countries in regional cooperation and development.

"As four partners, we share a vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific that is peaceful, stable, and prosperous, underpinned by effective regional institutions. We reaffirm our unwavering support for Asean's centrality and unity as well as mainstreaming and implementation of the Asean Outlook on the Indo-Pacific," the group said in a statement.

The last Quad Summit was held in the US in September 2024. India will host the 2025 Quad Summit.