Regional diplomacy is intensifying in Manila as Southeast Asian leaders gather for the ASEAN summit and major Indo-Pacific partners line up parallel talks. The planned meeting of the Quad, comprising the U.S., Japan, Australia and India, would mark the group’s first leaders’ summit in two years and is expected to focus on security and trade routes.
Highlights
- Quad leaders will meet Tuesday in Manila during the ASEAN summit, focusing on critical minerals and securing commercial shipping lanes.
- Attacks on commercial ships and protection of global energy supplies will be central topics, reflecting rising Indo-Pacific security concerns.
- The Manila summit marks the first Quad leaders’ gathering since Trump’s 2023 return, spotlighting continuity in maritime security and supply chain priorities.
Agenda centers on shipping lanes and minerals
As reported by BusinessWorld, citing Reuters, the four leaders are expected to meet on Tuesday on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in the Philippine capital, according to two people familiar with the planning. One of those people says critical minerals are expected to be on the agenda, alongside concerns about keeping commercial shipping lanes free and unimpeded to protect global energy supplies.The same person says attacks on commercial ships are very likely to be discussed. The Quad is widely seen as a counterweight to China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific, although its members say the grouping is not aimed at any single country.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated last month that Quad leaders could meet during the ASEAN summit, which begins on Sunday in Manila. A second person, from the Philippine government and briefed on preparations, says the leaders are expected to gather shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump arrives in Manila on Tuesday, the final day of the regional summit.
Regional and strategic implications for the Indo-Pacific
The Manila gathering would be the first Quad leaders’ meeting since Trump returned to office last year, giving the talks added weight for regional security coordination. A renewed focus on maritime access and critical mineral supply chains also highlights the group’s broader economic and strategic interests across the Indo-Pacific.Quad leaders last met in September 2024 in Delaware, where they reaffirmed support for a free and open Indo-Pacific and announced initiatives to strengthen maritime security cooperation. A new summit in Manila would signal continuity in that agenda as shipping security and supply chain resilience remain central concerns for regional governments and markets.
As highlighted earlier, U.S. and Japan outlined plans to expand cooperation on seabed minerals development to diversify critical mineral supply chains.
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