Japan and US Ministers Hold Bilateral Talks in New Delhi on China, Taiwan, and Iran

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held bilateral talks in New Delhi on Tuesday on the sidelines of a broader gathering of the Quad nations.

The meeting began at 11:00 a.m. local time, or 2:30 p.m. in Japan. According to Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two officials exchanged views on developments in the Indo-Pacific and on economic security, including issues related to China following U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent visit there.

The ministers also reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and confirmed that Japan and the United States would continue to coordinate closely on regional issues.

Iran was another focus of the discussions. Motegi emphasized the importance of an early agreement between Washington and Tehran as soon as possible, including on matters affecting stability in the Strait of Hormuz, the ministry stated. 

The talks took place alongside the Japan-Australia-India-United States Quad foreign ministers’ meeting, hosted by India. That session began at 9:15 a.m. local time and lasted about one hour.

The Quad framework is intended to strengthen cooperation among the four countries in the Indo-Pacific and has held regular ministerial meetings in recent years. Tuesday’s gathering was the first Quad foreign ministers’ meeting of 2026, following meetings in Washington in July 2025 and January 2025.

The format traces its roots to 2019, when the first Quad foreign ministers’ meeting was held in New York, although cooperation among the countries dates back to joint tsunami relief efforts in 2004 and subsequent discussions among senior officials beginning in 2007.

Quad leaders have also met at summit level, including in Wilmington, Delaware, in September 2024, where discussions focused on issues such as maritime security, supply-chain resilience, and regional stability.

During Tuesday’s broader Quad meeting, the four countries issued a joint statement as well as documents covering energy security and critical minerals. U.S. officials also highlighted new initiatives related to maritime surveillance and port infrastructure projects.

The Strait of Hormuz, referenced during the Japan–U.S. discussions on Iran, is one of the world’s most important oil transit routes and a key chokepoint for global energy shipments.

Public details of the bilateral talks remained limited, with no separate U.S. State Department readout released as of publication.

The meeting highlighted continuing efforts by Tokyo and Washington to align their approaches on China, maritime security, and energy stability within the Quad framework.

No additional outcomes from the meeting had been announced as of publication.