In a strong signal to China, the foreign ministers of the Quad (Quaternary Security Dialogue) countries – India, Australia, Japan and the US – in a joint statement on Tuesday strongly opposed any unilateral action that seeks to change the status quo by force.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio hosted his first multilateral meeting as the top US diplomat with India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Japan’s Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi. At the conclusion of the nearly hour-long meeting, the ministers reaffirmed the ‘Quad Leadership Summit’ to be held in India later this year.
A joint statement issued by the Quad countries said, ‘Our four nations remain steadfast that international law, economic opportunity, peace, stability and security in all areas, including the maritime domain, are the foundation for the development and prosperity of the peoples of the Indo-Pacific. . We strongly oppose any unilateral action that seeks to change the status quo by force or coercion.
According to the statement, ‘We are committed to strengthening regional maritime, economic and technology security as well as promoting reliable and resilient supply chains in the face of growing threats. We look forward to taking the work of the Quad forward in the coming months and meeting on a regular basis to prepare for the next ‘Quad Leaders Summit’ hosted by India.’
The statement said the Quad ministers also reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening a ‘free and open Indo-Pacific’ where the rule of law, democratic values, sovereignty and territorial integrity are upheld and protected. Is performed.
In a post on social media platform ‘X’, Jaishankar said the meeting has given a clear message that in an uncertain and volatile world, the ‘Quad’ will continue to be a force for good around the world. He said, ‘It is significant that the meeting of foreign ministers of the Quad countries took place within a few hours of the beginning of the Trump administration.’ Jaishankar said ‘Our wide-ranging discussions covered various dimensions to ensure a free, open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific.’