Quad Foreign Ministers re-commit to security goals in Trump 2.0
text_fields
Quad foreign ministers from Japan, India, US, and Australia meet in Washington DC.
Washington: The Quad Foreign Ministers reiterated their commitment to strengthening regional maritime, economic, and technology security in a joint statement issued after their first meeting during US President Donald Trump’s second term.
This meeting also marked US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's inaugural diplomatic engagement, reflecting the importance the Trump administration places on the Quad, a grouping revived in 2017 after a hiatus. The group, originally founded following the 2004 Tsunami, had folded in 2008 due to Australia's withdrawal under Chinese pressure.
Rubio met with his Quad counterparts—India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and Japan's Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya—at the US State Department. Rubio, who was sworn in earlier by Vice President J.D. Vance, delivered his first public engagement in the department before convening the Quad meeting and meeting with each partner individually, starting with Minister Jaishankar.
In the joint statement, the Ministers reaffirmed their shared commitment to "a Free and Open Indo-Pacific," emphasizing the importance of upholding international law, democratic values, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. The statement stressed the group’s unified stance against unilateral actions that seek to alter the status quo through force or coercion.
The Ministers emphasized that they are committed to strengthening regional maritime, economic, and technology security in response to growing threats. They also highlighted the importance of promoting reliable and resilient supply chains. They added that the Quad would continue its work in the coming months, with regular meetings leading up to the next Quad Leaders' Summit, which will be hosted by India.
The summit is expected to coincide with President Trump’s first visit to India during his second term, following his inaugural visit in 2020. However, it was also noted that Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi may meet prior to the summit.
With IANS inputs