NEW DELHI: External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday attended the first meeting of the Quad foreign ministers meeting in Washington DC since President Donald Trump returned to the White House.
Following the meet, Jaishankar said that foreign ministers of US, Australia and Japan addressed different dimensions of ensuring the prosperity of Indo-Pacific region.
In a social media post on X, Jaishankar said, “Attended a productive Quad foreign ministers’ meeting today in Washington DC. Thank secretary Marco Rubio for hosting us and FMs Penny Wong & Takeshi Iwaya for their participation. Significant that the Quad FMM took place within hours of the inauguration of the Trump Administration. This underlines the priority it has in the foreign policy of its member states.”
“Our wide-ranging discussions addressed different dimensions of ensuring a free, open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific. Agreed on the importance of thinking bigger, deepening the agenda and intensifying our collaboration. The meeting today sends a clear message that in an uncertain and volatile world, the Quad will continue to be a force for global good,” he added.
After the meet, Quad foreign ministers also released a joint statement and said that the top officials would meet regularly to prepare for an upcoming leaders’ summit in India, expected this year.
“We, the secretary of state of the United States and the foreign ministers of Australia, India, and Japan, met today in Washington DC to reaffirm our shared commitment to strengthening a free and open Indo-Pacific where the rule of law, democratic values, sovereignty, and territorial integrity are upheld and defended,” the statement read.
“Our four nations maintain our conviction that international law, economic opportunity, peace, stability, and security in all domains including the maritime domain underpin the development and prosperity of the peoples of the Indo-Pacific. We also strongly oppose any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion,” it added.
The ministers also reiterated their commitment to strengthen regional maritime economic, and technology security in the face of increasing threats.
“We are committed to strengthening regional maritime, economic, and technology security in the face of increasing threats, as well as promoting reliable and resilient supply chains. We look forward to advancing the work of the Quad in the coming months and will meet together on a regular basis as we prepare for the next Quad Leaders’ Summit hosted by India,” it said.
The Quad is a diplomatic partnership among India, Australia, Japan, and the United States, committed to fostering an open, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific that is inclusive and resilient.
The grouping met many times during the administration of former President Joe Biden, with a focus on Beijing’s military and economic activities in the Indo-Pacific, particularly in the South China Sea where US allies have pushed back against Beijing’s territorial claims.
The grouping has also pledged to advance cooperation in cybersecurity to protect supply chains and critical infrastructure, including undersea cables.