Is EAM Jaishankar Visiting the US for the Quad Meeting?

New Delhi, June 30 (NationPress) External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar is set to embark on an official visit to the United States from June 30 to July 2, following an invitation from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, to engage in the upcoming Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting (QFMM) scheduled for July 1, according to an official announcement on Sunday.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that the discussions at the QFMM will build on the dialogues from the previous meeting held in Washington on January 21 this year.

“The ministers will exchange insights on both regional and global developments, with a focus on the Indo-Pacific, and assess the progress made on various Quad initiatives leading up to the Quad Leaders' Summit, which India will host. The ministers are also expected to discuss new proposals to promote a shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific,” the MEA statement elaborated.

On June 30, EAM Jaishankar will also inaugurate an exhibition titled, “The Human Cost of Terrorism” at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

“This exhibition will underscore the severe impact of brutal terrorist acts globally and the collective measures undertaken by the international community to combat terrorism,” the statement highlighted.

The upcoming QFMM will be hosted by Secretary Rubio and will also feature Foreign Ministers Penny Wong from Australia and Iwaya Takeshi from Japan next Tuesday in Washington.

Rubio’s initial diplomatic engagement post his January 21 inauguration was the Quad foreign ministers meeting, which occurred just after President Donald Trump took office.

“Next week’s meeting aims to maintain the momentum towards fostering a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific,” stated Thomas Pigott, Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the Department of State.

“This exemplifies American leadership: strength, peace, and prosperity,” he added.

Earlier this week, S. Jaishankar shared on X that he had a phone call with Wong to prepare for the Quad meeting.

This meeting will mark the first gathering of the ministers following the Pahalgam attack.

Prior to his trip to Washington, S. Jaishankar will inaugurate the exhibition on “The Human Cost of Terrorism” on Monday at the United Nations.

India’s UN Mission noted that the exhibition aims to “illustrate the harrowing toll of terrorist acts globally.”

This event is scheduled just before Pakistan assumes the rotating presidency of the Security Council.

The forthcoming Quad meeting is anticipated to set the stage for the upcoming Summit to be hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which will see the attendance of US President Donald Trump, and Prime Ministers Anthony Albanese of Australia and Shigeru Ishiba of Japan in India.

During their February meeting, PM Modi expressed eagerness to host Trump at the summit.

This meeting serves as the first foreign affairs dialogue post Trump’s inauguration, highlighting his administration’s focus on regional priorities amidst the looming challenge posed by China.

However, global attention has shifted towards the Middle East and Ukraine.

The conflict between Israel and Iran seems to have subsided for the moment, allowing for renewed focus on the Indo-Pacific, where China’s influence remains a critical concern for regional nations.