New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar participated in the inaugural Quad ministerial meeting of the new Donald Trump administration on Tuesday. Following this meeting, he engaged in his first bilateral discussion with the newly appointed U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, which extended for over an hour.
Jaishankar distinguished himself as the first foreign minister to conduct a bilateral meeting with Rubio. The Quad meeting also included the participation of foreign ministers Penny Wong from Australia and Takeshi Iwaya from Japan. The Quad is a coalition of four nations focused on upholding peace and order in the Indo-Pacific region.
Jaishankar expressed his appreciation on X, stating, “Attended a productive Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting today in Washington DC. Thank @secrubio for hosting us and FMs @SenatorWong and Takeshi Iwaya for their participation.”
He emphasized that the Quad foreign ministers’ meeting occurred just hours after the inauguration of the Trump administration, highlighting the significance of the group in the foreign policy agendas of its member countries. He noted that the discussions encompassed various aspects of promoting a free, open, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
Jaishankar remarked, “We agreed on the necessity of broadening our perspectives, enhancing our agenda, and intensifying our cooperation. Today’s meeting conveys a clear message that, in an unpredictable and turbulent world, the Quad will persist as a force for global good.”
The four leaders of the Quad gathered for a group photograph at the State Department following their hour-long meeting. However, they refrained from addressing any inquiries from the media.
The purpose of the meeting was to reaffirm the significance of collaborating with global allies on matters of importance to the United States and its citizens, as stated by Rubio in an earlier interview with NBC News.
Subsequent to their bilateral discussions after the Quad session, Rubio and Jaishankar participated in a photo opportunity for the pooled press, exchanging handshakes and smiles for the cameras.
“Secretary of State Marco Rubio engaged with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar today in Washington, D.C. Both Secretary Rubio and Minister Jaishankar reiterated their commitment to enhancing the partnership between the United States and India. They explored a variety of topics, including regional challenges and avenues to further strengthen the US-India relationship, particularly in areas such as critical and emerging technologies, defense collaboration, energy, and the promotion of a free and open Indo-Pacific region,” stated State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce.
Bruce further noted that during the meeting, Secretary Rubio highlighted the Trump Administration’s intention to collaborate with India to bolster economic relations and address issues related to irregular migration.
Jaishankar, who is in the United States at the invitation of the government to attend the presidential inauguration, also met with US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz at the White House.
India and France Reach Consensus on Maritime Security in the Indian Ocean
In recent developments, India and France have reached an agreement to investigate collaborative surveillance initiatives aimed at addressing maritime security threats in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Both nations have also pledged to assist one another in maritime security operations.
According to a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) following the seventh India-France maritime cooperation dialogue, “Both parties concurred on the need to enhance existing cooperation mechanisms, including the implementation of the established framework for information exchange. This will involve improved communication between the Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region in Gurugram, the Regional Coordination Operations Centre in Seychelles, and the Regional Maritime Information Fusion Centre in Madagascar within the IOR.”
