Quad Leaders to Meet in Manila on Tuesday in First Summit in Two Years

Leaders of the United States, Japan, Australia and India are expected to meet in Manila on Tuesday, in the first summit of the four-nation Quad grouping in two years. The meeting will take place on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in the Philippine capital, two people familiar with the preparations said, and it will be the first gathering of Quad leaders since United States President Donald Trump returned to office.

The leaders are expected to gather shortly after President Trump arrives in Manila on Tuesday, the last day of the ASEAN summit, according to a Philippine government official briefed on the preparations. The ASEAN summit begins on Sunday. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had indicated last month that the leaders could meet on the sidelines.

FAKTA: Quad Summit in Manila

• What: Summit of the leaders of the United States, Japan, Australia and India
• When: Tuesday, 17 November 2026
• Where: Manila, Philippines, on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit
• First in two years: Last met in September 2024 in Delaware, United States
• On the agenda: Critical minerals supply, maritime security and regional cooperation
• Attending: US President Donald Trump, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi

Quad Leaders Meet in Manila After Two Years

The Quad brings together four major Indo-Pacific democracies to strengthen regional cooperation, and the Manila meeting will end a two-year gap between leaders’ summits. The group last met in September 2024 in Delaware, and Tuesday’s meeting will be the first since President Trump returned to office.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is also travelling to Manila for the ASEAN-related meetings, as part of a 16 to 19 November trip that will then take her to Shenzhen for the APEC leaders’ meeting, Tokyo has confirmed. The gathering gives the four leaders a chance to discuss major economic and strategic challenges and strengthen their shared approach to regional security.

Critical Minerals and Maritime Security on the Agenda

The supply of critical minerals is expected to feature prominently on the Quad agenda, one of the people familiar with the planning said. These resources matter for technology, manufacturing and security, and the four countries are expected to explore ways to strengthen cooperation in securing supplies.

Maritime security is also expected to be a major topic during the discussions. The leaders are likely to address safe and uninterrupted commercial shipping routes, which matter for global energy supplies and Indo-Pacific trade.

A Grouping Watched Closely Across Asia

The Quad is widely viewed as a counterweight to China’s growing influence in the region, although its members have repeatedly said the grouping is not directed against any one country and supports a free, open and stable Indo-Pacific region.

The Manila meeting is therefore being watched closely across Asia, both for what it signals about the four countries’ cooperation and for the practical steps they agree on minerals, shipping and regional security. More coverage of international diplomacy is available on the Watan News English homepage.