Amid sharpening geopolitical rivalries in the Indo-Pacific, West Asia uncertainty and renewed concerns over global supply chains, India will on Tuesday host the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, with New Delhi expected to push for a stronger strategic and economic agenda among the four-member grouping comprising India, the US, Japan and Australia.External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will host US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi for the talks expected to focus on maritime security, resilient supply chains, critical minerals, emerging technologies and regional stability.Diplomatic sources said the ministers were likely to reaffirm their commitment to a “free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific” while reviewing progress on ongoing Quad initiatives in areas such as cyber security, disaster relief coordination, undersea cable connectivity and critical technologies.The meeting assumes significance against the backdrop of growing Chinese assertiveness in the South China Sea, tensions around Taiwan and mounting concerns over economic coercion and strategic vulnerabilities in global supply chains. India is expected to emphasise the need for “trusted and diversified” supply chains, particularly in semiconductors, rare earths and critical minerals, which have emerged as major pillars of Quad cooperation.The continuing instability in West Asia and concerns over possible disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz are also expected to figure during the discussions. Given India’s dependence on energy imports, New Delhi is likely to underline the importance of securing maritime trade routes across the Indo-Pacific and the Indian Ocean region.Apart from security issues, the ministers are expected to discuss practical cooperation in artificial intelligence, telecom resilience, clean energy and trusted digital infrastructure. Officials indicated that the four countries may also explore ways to reduce overdependence on single-country manufacturing ecosystems and strengthen technology partnerships.The New Delhi meeting is also being viewed as an effort to inject fresh political momentum into the Quad at a time when the grouping is increasingly focusing on operational cooperation rather than only summit-level declarations. Analysts believe the discussions could lay the groundwork for a future Quad Leaders’ Summit later this year.The visiting foreign ministers are also expected to hold bilateral meetings with Jaishankar and call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their stay in the national capital.