Quad Ministers Meet In New Delhi
Foreign ministers of India, the United States, Japan and Australia met in New Delhi for the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, with discussions focused on Indo-Pacific security, maritime cooperation, supply chains, critical minerals and the impact of global conflicts on key trade routes.
Quad Meeting Focuses On Indo-Pacific Security
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar hosted U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi at Hyderabad House.
Jaishankar said the Quad countries, as maritime democracies and market economies, shared responsibility for a free and open Indo-Pacific. The ministers reviewed cooperation on maritime security, economic resilience, technology and regional stability.
Critical Minerals And Supply Chains Discussed
Critical minerals formed a major part of the discussions as Quad countries looked at ways to reduce dependence on concentrated supply chains. The ministers also discussed energy security and the need to protect sea lanes amid rising global uncertainty.
The meeting comes at a time when the Iran conflict has increased concerns over shipping routes, fuel supplies and global trade chokepoints, including the Strait of Hormuz.
Quad Leaders Expected To Meet Later
The foreign ministers also discussed the next Quad leaders’ summit, which India is expected to host. The meeting helped prepare the agenda for deeper cooperation among the four countries.
Japan and Australia underlined the importance of the Quad in giving Indo-Pacific countries greater choices in security, development and economic partnerships. The United States also reaffirmed that the Quad remains a key platform for regional cooperation.
