Quad FMs meet early next week in Washington in backdrop of West Asian developments

The Quad Foreign Ministers meeting early next week in Washington would not just focus on recent developments in the Indo-Pacific region, but significant attention is expected on developments in West Asia and Pahalgam terror attack as India would push for a stronger anti-terror formulation by Quad.

The meeting is preparatory for the Quad Summit that India plans to host later this year. The meeting in Washington would also allow External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to engage with American interlocutors in the backdrop of President Donald Trump-Pak Field Marshal Asim Munir lunch meeting that has raised eyebrows in New Delhi.

India has been focusing on maritime security and disaster management as part of its agenda for the Quad Summit that could be held here in final quarter of the year.


At the last Quad Foreign Ministers meeting in Washington on January 21 following the inauguration of President Donald Trump, the four sides decided to strengthen a Free and Open Indo-Pacific where the rule of law, democratic values, sovereignty, and territorial integrity are upheld and defended.

“Our four nations maintain our conviction that international law, economic opportunity, peace, stability, and security in all domains including the maritime domain underpin the development and prosperity of the peoples of the Indo-Pacific. We also strongly oppose any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion,” said a joint statement issued after the meeting.

“We are committed to strengthening regional maritime, economic, and technology security in the face of increasing threats, as well as promoting reliable and resilient supply chains,” according to the joint statement.