Hawaii hosts fourth Quad Disaster response exercise

In a renewed push to strengthen collective disaster-response capacity across the Indo-Pacific, the United States has hosted the fourth annual Quad Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR) Tabletop Exercise and Strategic Meeting in Hawaii. The four-day event, held in Honolulu from December 2–5, brought together senior officials from the US, Australia, India and Japan reflecting the grouping’s growing focus on swift, coordinated and reliable humanitarian support in a region increasingly vulnerable to natural disasters like earthquakes, cyclones, tsunamis, floods, volcanic eruptions, landslides, and major humanitarian emergencies.

According to the US State Department, the exercise served as a critical platform for the four nations to refine joint strategies, share operational lessons, and test mechanisms for rapid mobilisation during emergencies. Officials reviewed past responses, updated coordination protocols and discussed ways to improve readiness for large-scale crises, including earthquakes, storms and other extreme events.

The US underscored that humanitarian assistance has been a core pillar of the Quad since its inception, calling it central to the group’s broader mission of promoting peace, stability and resilience in the Indo-Pacific. It cited the bloc’s coordinated response to the devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar in March 2025 as a clear example of the Quad’s ability to act quickly and effectively.

Quad countries jointly committed over USD 20 million in humanitarian aid for the earthquake relief effort. The quake, centred near Mandalay at a shallow depth of around 10 km, caused severe destruction, killed thousands and displaced many more, with tremors felt as far away as Bangkok.Mandalay quake felt 1,025 km away in Bangkok

Through this year’s tabletop exercise, Quad partners reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening regional disaster-response networks and ensuring that lifesaving aid reaches affected communities without delay. The meeting concluded with a shared resolve to build a more secure, prepared and resilient Indo-Pacific.