New Delhi, May 26 (H.S.): The meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Quad — comprising four major Indo-Pacific nations India, Australia, Japan, and the United States — is underway in New Delhi. External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong are participating in the meeting.

In his opening remarks, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar said that all four nations are maritime democracies, pluralistic societies, and market-based economies. Therefore, they share a collective responsibility towards ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific region. He stated that the region must continue to remain a major pillar of global growth and stability.

Jaishankar said that the Quad’s primary focus is to ensure a free, open, and stable Indo-Pacific region. He added that member nations would also deliberate on shared activities and global challenges beyond the Indo-Pacific. He noted that the Indo-Pacific region remains the central point of consideration for the Quad, while issues such as strengthening global supply chains, disruptions in connectivity routes, manufacturing challenges, and the lack of critical infrastructure also require serious attention. He said that strong partnerships and reliable cooperation are essential to address these challenges.

Jaishankar further stated that there is a need to enhance strategic trust in the Indo-Pacific region, ensure maritime security, and promote economic alternatives. He described transparent and dependable partnerships as the most effective means to achieve these objectives. He added that over the past few months, officials of member countries have strengthened cooperation in the areas of maritime security, critical technologies, economic resilience, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar