NEW DELHI, May 24 (ANI) — Ahead of the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in the national capital on May 26, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said the Indo-Pacific region is poised to become a major global energy lifeline and expressed confidence that the Quad nations would have a “good strong story to tell” following the meeting.
Responding to media queries during a joint press conference with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Jaishankar recalled that the Quad, in its current form, began during U.S. President Donald Trump’s first administration and noted that discussions with Rubio have consistently included the grouping.
“Looking ahead, the Indo-Pacific is going to become more and more important with the passage of time. It will even become a big energy lifeline,” Jaishankar said.
The external affairs minister highlighted the growing potential for cooperation between India and the United States across sectors such as energy and trade.
“The work on the Quad goes on, and two days from now you will see us on the podium talking about the Quad. I can assure you we will have a good strong story to tell,” he added.
Responding to another question during the briefing, Jaishankar said the term “maritime democracies” appropriately describes the Quad nations.
“I’m glad you used the word maritime democracies because both terms are very relevant,” he said.
“We are doing a lot with each other because we are maritime powers, and I see that growing. And we are doing a lot with each other because we are democratic powers who have a certain way of doing things, a certain belief system, and certain practices,” he added.
Jaishankar emphasized that the Quad’s mission is closely tied to preserving a rules-based international order.
“We are market economies, we are open societies. We want business to be conducted and life to run on the basis of international law and market practices,” he said.
“So for us, particularly in the Indo-Pacific, which I see gaining in importance and salience in the coming days, it is very important that Quad cooperation as maritime democracies continues. That is exactly what you will see two days from now,” Jaishankar added.
India is preparing to host the foreign ministers of the Quad nations in New Delhi on May 26 to discuss the evolving security dynamics in the Indo-Pacific and rising tensions across West Asia.
The high-level meeting of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue — comprising India, the United States, Australia, and Japan — will be chaired by Jaishankar. (ANI)
About The Author
