Washington, Jan 22 (PTI) - In a significant diplomatic move, foreign ministers from the Quad countries—United States, India, Japan, and Australia—met in Washington on January 22 to discuss regional security and cooperation. Hosted by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, this was his inaugural multilateral meeting as the top American diplomat, featuring External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Australia's Penny Wong, and Japan's Takeshi Iwaya.
The ministers reaffirmed their commitment to the upcoming Quad Leadership Summit in India later this year, with India set to host the 2025 summit. A joint statement issued after the hour-long meeting emphasized the group's shared commitment to a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, asserting the importance of upholding international law, democratic values, and territorial integrity.
"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 people of the Indo-Pacific. We also strongly oppose any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion," the statement read.
The Quad, comprising the US, India, Japan, and Australia, has been enhancing collaboration in defense and energy sectors in response to China's growing influence in the region. The ministers committed to bolstering regional maritime, economic, and technology security amidst increasing threats, and to promoting reliable supply chains.
In response to the Quad meeting, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning asserted that China's activities in the South China Sea are lawful and justified. She criticized the Quad, stating that group politics would not contribute to lasting peace and security in the Asia-Pacific.
Jaishankar remarked on social media that the Quad meeting conveyed a clear message of unity and purpose in a volatile global landscape, highlighting the importance of deepening collaboration and addressing various dimensions of ensuring a stable Indo-Pacific.
The Quad initiative, first proposed in November 2017, aims to develop strategies to maintain free sea routes in the Indo-Pacific amid concerns over China's assertive actions in the region.