NEW DELHI, 26 May (H.S.). The shadow of West Asian instability loomed large over the 11th Quad Foreign Ministers' meeting here on Tuesday as the four-nation bloc expressed deep concern over Iran's attempts to disrupt the crucial Strait of Hormuz, warning that any restriction on freedom of navigation could trigger dangerous global precedents.

Though the Quad’s primary domain remains the Indo-Pacific, sources said the energy security of most nations in the region is heavily dependent on maintaining unimpeded shipping and upholding the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf. Any disruption there directly impacts major economies like India, Japan, and Australia, they said.

According to sources, the top diplomats of India, the US, Australia, and Japan engaged in intense brainstorming over the West Asian crisis. The ministers flagged that if Iran’s forced control and toll collection system in the strategic chokepoint are allowed to persist, it could embolden regional powers in other parts of the world to take similar arbitrary steps, severely disrupting global commerce and international peace.

To counter emerging maritime threats, the bloc approved two major security frameworks: the 'Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Cooperation Initiative' and an expanded 'Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness' (IPMDA). While the joint statement contextually links these to the Indo-Pacific, diplomatic signals indicate their scope can be expanded globally in the future if required.

Briefing reporters on the outcomes, Nagaraj Naidu Kakanur, Additional Secretary (Americas and Canada) in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), said the meeting provided an opportunity to review the Quad agenda and discuss critical regional and global developments. The meeting reaffirmed the Quad's commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific and emphasized that the Quad is evolving into a practical, action-oriented forum delivering tangible benefits to the region, Kakanur said. He noted that discussions centered around the four core pillars of the bloc: maritime and cross-border security, economic prosperity, critical technologies, and disaster relief.

Highlighting the launch of the 'Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Alliance', Kakanur said the new mechanism, integrated with cutting-edge technologies, will empower countries with real-time data sharing and a clearer operational picture of commercial vessel movements. We are currently standing at a turning point where international waters are increasingly getting closed and that is impacting our entire energy security — not just India, but several countries across the Indo-Pacific region, the senior official said in response to a question.

He stated that the ministers emphasized the critical need for freedom of navigation, unimpeded commerce, and the safety of seafarers who bear the brunt of complex global conflicts. To cushion against global oil market volatility, the bloc officially launched the 'Quad Initiative on Indo-Pacific Energy Security' to diversify regional energy sources.

On other economic and strategic fronts, the ministers announced the 'Quad Critical Minerals Initiative Framework' to secure reliable supply chains for mining, processing and recycling. Agreements were also reached on next-generation communication standards and the interoperability of digital identities, alongside accelerating the 'Indo-Pacific Logistics Network' for rapid civilian disaster response.

Strongly confronting regional security threats, the Quad ministers also issued a unequivocal condemnation of terrorism. Counter-terrorism is a significant pillar of the Quad cooperation. The ministers strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism, Kakanur said. Significantly, the joint statement specifically condemned the horrific April 2025 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, and reiterated the absolute necessity for decisive international action against proscribed terror outfits, their networks, and financial sponsors.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Sachin Budhauliya