NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday attended the first meeting of the Quadruple meeting of foreign ministers in Washington DC since President Donald Trump returned to the White House.
After the meeting, Jaishankar said the foreign ministers of the United States, Australia and Japan discussed different dimensions to ensure the prosperity of Indo-Pacific region.
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In a social media post on It is 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 extensive discussions addressed different dimensions to ensure a free, open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific. We agreed on the importance of thinking big, deepening the agenda and intensifying our collaboration. Today’s meeting sends a clear message that in a uncertain and volatile time, the Quad will continue to be a force for global good,” he added.
After the meeting, Quad foreign ministers also issued a joint statement and said top officials would meet regularly to prepare for an upcoming leaders’ summit in India, scheduled for this year.
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“We, the US Secretary of State and the Foreign Ministers of Australia, India and Japan, meet 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 maintained and defended,” the statement reads.
“Our four nations maintain our conviction that international law, economic opportunity, peace, stability and security in all areas, including the maritime domain, underpin the development and prosperity of the peoples of the Indo-Pacific. We also “We firmly oppose any unilateral action that seeks to change the status quo by force or coercion,” he added.
The ministers also reiterated their commitment to strengthening regional maritime, economic and technological security in the face of growing threats.
“We are committed to strengthening regional maritime, economic and technological security in the face of growing 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 regularly as we prepare to the upcoming Quad Leaders Summit hosted by India,” he said.
The Quad is a diplomatic partnership between India, Australia, Japan and the United States, committed to fostering an open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific that is inclusive and resilient.
The group met many times during former President Joe Biden’s administration, focusing on Beijing’s military and economic activities in the Indo-Pacific, particularly in the South China Sea, where U.S. allies have rejected Beijing’s territorial claims. Beijing.
The group has also committed to promoting cybersecurity cooperation to protect supply chains and critical infrastructure, including undersea cables.