 Ministerial Meeting of the new Donald Trump administration.){kind=link}
India’s External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar attended the first Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) Ministerial Meeting of the new Donald Trump administration on Tuesday. The meeting, held in Washington D.C., was attended by Jaishankar’s Australian and Japanese counterparts, Penny Wong and Takeshi Iwaya, alongside the newly appointed US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio. This marked the first major multilateral engagement of the incoming US administration, highlighting the priority accorded to the Quad in the foreign policies of its member nations.
Jaishankar, who was in Washington on the invitation of the US government to attend the presidential inauguration, also held bilateral meetings with key figures of the Trump administration. Notably, he became the first foreign minister to hold a one-on-one discussion with newly appointed Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a meeting that lasted over an hour. Additionally, Jaishankar met US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz at the White House, further solidifying India’s strategic ties with the United States.
Joint Statement Highlights Commitment to a Free and Open Indo-Pacific
Following the Quad meeting, the foreign ministers issued a joint statement reaffirming their shared commitment to ensuring a Free and Open Indo-Pacific. The statement emphasized upholding the rule of law, democratic values, sovereignty, and territorial integrity in the region. It strongly opposed any unilateral actions aimed at altering the status quo through force or coercion and stressed the importance of maintaining peace, stability, and security in all domains, including the maritime sphere.
“We are committed to strengthening regional maritime, economic, and technology security in the face of increasing threats, as well as promoting reliable and resilient supply chains,” the statement noted. The ministers also expressed their determination to intensify collaboration and prepare for the next Quad Leaders’ Summit, which India will host.
Jaishankar’s Reflections on the Meeting
EAM S. Jaishankar took to social media platform X to share his insights on the meeting. “Attended a productive Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting today in Washington D.C. Thanks Marco Rubio for hosting us and FMs Penny Wong & Takeshi Iwaya for their participation. Significant that the Quad FMM took place within hours of the inauguration of the Trump Administration. This underlines the priority it has in the foreign policy of its member states,” he stated.
He further elaborated on the wide-ranging discussions held during the meeting, which addressed various dimensions of ensuring a stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific. Jaishankar highlighted the Quad’s focus on “thinking bigger, deepening the agenda, and intensifying collaboration,” emphasizing the grouping’s role as a “force for global good.”
The Quad’s Evolution and Regional Focus
The Quad, comprising India, Australia, Japan, and the United States, has steadily evolved into a critical platform for addressing challenges in the Indo-Pacific. The grouping frequently met during the administration of former President Joe Biden, focusing particularly on countering Beijing’s assertive military and economic activities, especially in the South China Sea.
This inaugural meeting under the Trump administration signals continuity in the Quad’s agenda, with a renewed emphasis on bolstering regional security and economic resilience.
In parallel maritime security developments, India and France have agreed to enhance their cooperation to counter threats in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). During the 7th India-France Maritime Cooperation Dialogue, both nations committed to strengthening existing mechanisms for information exchange and surveillance. The partnership will leverage frameworks such as the Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) in Gurugram, India, and regional maritime coordination centers in Seychelles and Madagascar.
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