The meeting, aimed at preparing for the Quad summit slated for later this year, also focused on cooperation in the maritime domain as well as political coordination.
Speaking in the presence of his counterparts from the US, Japan and Australia, ahead of the meeting, Jaishankar emphasised, “A word about terrorism in the light of our recent experience. The world must display zero tolerance. Victims and perpetrators must never be equated. India has every right to defend its people against terrorism and we will exercise that right. We expect our Quad partners to understand and appreciate that.”
He reiterated New Delhi’s commitment to a rules-based global order and a secure, inclusive Indo-Pacific. “We are all committed to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific. It is essential that nations of the Indo-Pacific have the freedom of choice so essential to make the right decisions on development and security.”
On India’s plans to host the next Quad summit, Jaishankar stated, “We have some proposals on how to make that productive. I am sure so do our partners. We will discuss, and I am sure that we will agree.”
Australian foreign minister Penny Wong highlighted the significance of regional unity amid global uncertainty. “Unfortunately, we meet against the backdrop of conflict and escalating competition. So, it has never been more important for us to harness our collective strengths for peace, for stability, for prosperity in Indo-Pacific and for all our people,” she said.Japan’s minister Takeshi Iwaya also underlined the importance of Quad cohesion. Takeshi said, “The Indo-Pacific Region, where our four countries are located, is the growth engine of the global economy… Peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific Region are essential for the prosperity of international community.”US Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomed the discussions and praised the progress in the Quad platform. He said: “There are many global problems, but also problems that we face in our respective countries, that can be solved by us cooperating.”
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- Source of information and images “economictimes.indiatimes”“
