Quad foreign ministers on Tuesday, May 26, highlighted the need to strengthen supply chain resilience, diversify critical mineral sourcing, and uphold freedom of navigation, as the grouping met in New Delhi amid rising geopolitical and economic security concerns.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said cooperation among the four countries had become “more important because of recent events”, with the grouping working to further “operationalise” its relationship.
Rubio said areas such as humanitarian response, energy security, freedom of navigation and diversifying supply chains for critical minerals were key priorities where the four nations could collectively contribute solutions.
India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the ministers would discuss shared activities while addressing emerging “challenges and opportunities” in the Indo-Pacific.
“At the global level, we have to address issues like supply chain resilience, connectivity choke points, manufacturing concentration and gaps in critical infrastructure,” Jaishankar said in his opening remarks. “Each one of them offers new arguments for more partnerships.”
He added that the Quad had discussed maritime security and critical technologies over the past few months and shared a responsibility towards a “free and open Pacific”. “The region must remain a driver of global growth and stability,” he said.
The foreign ministers of India, the US, Japan, and Australia are attending the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi. Rubio thanked India for hosting the gathering, calling it an important meeting at a significant time.
The Quad, or Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, was founded in 2007 and focuses on promoting a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region. The grouping has expanded cooperation in areas including maritime security, infrastructure, emerging technologies and supply chains amid growing strategic competition in the region.
A day ahead of the meeting, Chinese state-run newspaper China Daily said the Quad was “struggling to find its voice”, arguing that the Indo-Pacific was already “open and free”.
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(Edited by : Tenzin Norzom)
