On the sidelines of the Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Washington D.C. on Tuesday, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar of India met with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong to discuss a range of critical issues, including strategic cooperation, Indo-Pacific security, technological advancements, and regional stability. The meeting, which took place on July 1, 2025, underscored the robust partnership between India and Australia within the Quad framework, aligning both nations on shared objectives in the region.
During the Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting, which included US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, Jaishankar emphasized the importance of a "free and open Indo-Pacific" and reiterated India's commitment to a rules-based international order. He highlighted the progress made by the Quad in several sectors, such as maritime domain awareness, logistics, education, and political coordination. He also noted the streamlining of the Quad's working groups to enhance efficiency and focus.
In his opening remarks, Jaishankar addressed the issue of terrorism, asserting India's firm stance against it. He stated that the world must display zero tolerance towards terrorism and that victims and perpetrators should never be equated. "India has every right to defend its people against terrorism, and we will exercise that right. We expect our Quad partners to understand and appreciate that," Jaishankar affirmed. This statement followed India's recent counterterrorism response, including Operation Sindoor, launched after the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam.
Penny Wong, in her remarks, acknowledged the backdrop of conflict and escalating competition in the Indo-Pacific region. She emphasized the need to harness the Quad's collective strength to promote peace, stability, and prosperity for the region and its people. Wong also noted the Quad partners' swift mobilization to assist Myanmar following the devastating earthquake in March. She highlighted the significance of the Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting occurring within six months of the previous one, underscoring the importance of their partnership and the strategic challenges they face.
Secretary Rubio mentioned the Quad's potential to focus on and strengthen the global supply chain of critical minerals. Jaishankar announced that India is on track to host the next Quad leaders' summit and has proposals to make it productive. He also met with his Japanese counterpart, Takeshi Iwaya, for comprehensive discussions on infrastructure, investment, and mobility, emphasizing the deepening and diversification of their special, strategic, and global partnership.
The meeting in Washington D.C. served as a crucial platform for the Quad members to address pressing strategic and regional issues. The discussions aimed to reaffirm shared democratic values and promote a rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific, a region of growing strategic importance.
