Australia, India, Japan and the United States have concluded a Tabletop Exercise (TTX) in Tokyo aimed at advancing the Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network (IPLN) and strengthening civilian disaster response capabilities across the Indo-Pacific region.
The two-day exercise was held on September 3 and 4, 2026, and was hosted by Japan’s Ministry of Defense, in line with the understanding reached at the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in May 2026.
The exercise built on the outcomes of the inaugural IPLN TTX held in Hawaii in April 2025 and the Field Training Exercise (FTX) conducted in Guam in December 2025. This latest exercise focused on natural disaster response scenarios, with the four Quad partners examining ways to make better use of their respective logistics capabilities while improving interoperability and streamlining coordination.
A key outcome of the Tokyo exercise was significant progress towards developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the IPLN. The SOPs are expected to provide an institutional framework for the effective operationalisation of the logistics network.
During the exercise, the Quad partners also expressed their deepest condolences to those affected by the recent devastating floods. They reiterated their shared commitment to supporting regional partners during times of need and discussed ways to strengthen coordination of humanitarian assistance and relief operations during crises and emergencies.
The IPLN is designed to enable the Quad partners to leverage their shared logistics capabilities to respond more rapidly and efficiently to large-scale natural disasters across the Indo-Pacific. The initiative aims to help save lives, accelerate recovery and provide timely support to regional partners.
The Tokyo TTX reaffirmed the Quad’s commitment to strengthening practical cooperation in addressing regional challenges and supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific.
The four countries will continue efforts to operationalise the IPLN through further tabletop and field training exercises, confidence-building measures and exchanges among subject matter experts.
