Quad Foreign Ministers Renew Security Commitments in Trump 2.0
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Synopsis
The Quad Foreign Ministers met in Washington to reaffirm their commitment to regional security, emphasizing maritime, economic, and technological cooperation in the context of President Trump's second term. They expressed their unified stance against threats to the Indo-Pacific region and outlined plans for future collaboration.
Key Takeaways
- The Quad Ministers reaffirmed commitment to a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.
- Strengthening regional maritime, economic, and technology security is a priority.
- International law and democratic values are paramount for prosperity.
- Regular meetings will prepare for the upcoming Quad Leaders' Summit in India.
- President Trump may visit India for the first time in his second term.
Washington, Jan 22 (NationPress) The Quad Foreign Ministers convened on Tuesday to reaffirm their dedication to enhancing regional maritime, economic, and technological security in a collaborative statement released following their inaugural meeting during US President Donald Trump's second term.
This meeting marked US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's first diplomatic engagement, underscoring the significance of the Quad under the Trump administration, which notably revitalized the group in 2017 with a meeting of officials on the sidelines of ASEAN in Manila.
The Quad was established in the aftermath of the 2004 Tsunami but was dissolved in 2008 after Australia withdrew due to pressure from China.
Rubio engaged with his Quad counterparts, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar, Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and Japan's Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, at the US State Department mere hours after being sworn in by Vice President J.D. Vance.
Rubio's initial public engagement post-swearing-in was an address to the employees at the US State Department followed by the Quad meeting. He held separate discussions with his Quad partners, commencing with EAM Jaishankar.
In their joint statement, the Ministers declared, “We, the Secretary of State of the United States and the Foreign Ministers of Australia, India, and Japan, convened today in Washington D.C. to reaffirm our shared commitment to fostering a Free and Open Indo-Pacific where the rule of law, democratic values, sovereignty, and territorial integrity are upheld and defended.”
They emphasized, “Our four nations maintain our conviction that international law, economic opportunity, peace, stability, and security in all domains including the maritime domain are essential for the development and prosperity of the peoples of the Indo-Pacific. We also strongly oppose any unilateral actions that seek to alter the status quo through force or coercion.”
Furthermore, the Ministers expressed, “We are resolute in our commitment to fortifying regional maritime, economic, and technological security in light of escalating threats, as well as promoting dependable and resilient supply chains. We anticipate advancing the Quad's efforts in the upcoming months and will convene regularly as we prepare for the next Quad Leaders' Summit, which will be hosted by India.”
This upcoming summit is expected to mark President Trump's inaugural visit to India during his second term; his first visit occurred in 2020 during his first term. However, Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi may meet prior to the summit.
