WASHINGTON, D.C., July 1 (ANI): Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Tuesday underscored the growing strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific region, asserting that the future of the 21st century is being shaped within it. Her remarks came ahead of the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (QFMM) in Washington, D.C., where ministers from Australia, India, Japan, and the United States gathered to discuss regional and global priorities.
“We understand how important this partnership is,” Wong said at a joint press conference. “It is such an important partnership for the world, for our region, and for the countries represented.”
The Quad—comprised of Australia, India, Japan, and the United States—is a diplomatic alliance committed to promoting a free, open, stable, and resilient Indo-Pacific. Its origins trace back to humanitarian coordination following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, but the grouping has since evolved into a strategic partnership focused on regional security and economic cooperation.
Wong echoed U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s recent Senate testimony, stating, “The future of the 21st century is being made in this region, being shaped in this region—and Australia agrees.” She emphasized the urgency of collective action in the face of growing global competition and regional instability.
“This is a very important Quad meeting, as always, and unfortunately, we meet against the backdrop of conflict and escalating competition,” Wong noted, referencing ongoing geopolitical tensions in Europe and the Middle East. “It has never been more important for us to harness our collective strength—for peace, for stability, for prosperity in the Indo-Pacific, and for all our peoples.”
Highlighting the group’s shared impact, Wong pointed out that the Quad represents nearly 25 percent of the global population and more than one-third of global GDP. She stressed that the partnership is grounded in “practical cooperation” in critical sectors such as technology, supply chains, and maritime security—areas central to maintaining safety and resilience in a rapidly evolving region.
“We are independent sovereign nations. We bring our own perspectives and our own interests,” Wong said. “And we also know this: we are stronger when we work together.”
She reaffirmed that the Quad’s mission extends beyond counterbalancing strategic rivals, focusing instead on delivering tangible benefits to the region and supporting an inclusive and prosperous Indo-Pacific order.
The Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting includes India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong. The forum serves as a platform for high-level coordination on shared priorities, including regional security, economic development, disaster response, and strategic connectivity. (ANI)
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