India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar made a compelling case for regional stability and counterterrorism at the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in Washington DC. Joined by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, Jaishankar addressed pressing regional challenges like terrorism.
Jaishankar described the discussions to be very productive and focused on enhancing the Quad’s impact on maritime security, logistics, education, and political coordination. A key outcome was the launch of the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative, which will be concerned with mineral recovery efforts critical for technological and economic advancement. The ministers addressed the South China Sea, with the EAM noting it to be an ‘issue of great concern’ because of its strategic importance as an international waterway. The Quad issued a joint statement opposing coercive actions to alter the status quo, thereby reinstating their commitment to rule of law and territorial integrity.
A significant portion of the meeting centered around terrorism and counterterrorism, particularly India’s response to the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. EAM Jaishankar labeled it an act of ‘economic warfare’ that wanted to cripple tourism and incite communal violence. He firmly asserted India’s right to defend itself against terrorism, and urged his Quad partners to support India’s stance. He condemned the justification or encouragement of acts of terrorism, calling for swift justice against its perpetrators. The Quad collective condemned crossborder terrorism but the absence of explicit mention of Pakistan in the statement was evident.
