EAM Jaishankar Reaffirms India’s Security Stance At Productive Quad Ministerial

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has described the Quad ministerial meeting held recently as ‘very productive’, emphasising its importance in fostering strategic stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

The meeting brought together Jaishankar alongside US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, representing the four major democracies committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Taking to X, Jaishankar posted, “Just finished a very productive meeting of Quad Foreign Ministers in Washington DC. Discussed how to make Quad more focused and impactful on contemporary opportunities and challenges. Today’s gathering will strengthen strategic stability in the Indo – Pacific and keep it free and open.”

Ahead of the meeting, Jaishankar reaffirmed India’s stance on counterterrorism, stating, “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.”

Emphasis on cooperation & shared priorities

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who hosted the ministerial session, highlighted the Quad countries’ broad challenges and said, “We can solve many global and national problems by cooperating together.”

Rubio noted his frequent interactions with Jaishankar since taking office six months ago, praising the Indian minister’s tireless diplomatic efforts.

“I follow the news, and every time I see he is somewhere else in the world. So he’s been very busy,” he remarked.

He further underscored the significance of the Quad nations as ‘very important strategic partners and allies of the United States’, citing their shared priorities and mutual concerns on the global stage.

Rubio stressed that the Quad’s agenda extends beyond security issues to include economic development.

He revealed his focus on diversifying the global supply chain of critical minerals, highlighting the importance of not only accessing raw materials but also the capacity to process and refine them.

“Having a diverse and reliable global supply chain of these is just one example of many that we can focus on and build upon and achieve some real progress on,” he said, expressing optimism for the partnership’s potential.

From dialogue to concrete action

A key challenge identified by Rubio is translating the Quad’s conceptual discussions into tangible outcomes.

He called for the partnership to evolve into ‘a vehicle for actually being able to take concrete actions’, working ‘in conjunction, coordination, and partnership’ to benefit the member countries and others globally.

“There are many countries that are going to benefit from this partnership, even though they’re not members of it,” Rubio added, highlighting the broader international impact the Quad aims to achieve.

This recent Quad ministerial meeting underlines the commitment of the four democracies to foster stability, deepen economic collaboration, and address emerging challenges in the Indo-Pacific, signalling a robust partnership poised for action.

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