New Delhi: The Quad, a diplomatic and strategic grouping among the US, India, Australia and Japan, is bringing maritime security to the forefront of its agenda, with the first meeting of the Quad Maritime Security Working Group meeting next taking place later this month in Washington. The Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was held in New Delhi Friday, and the Quad Summit will take place later this year in Australia.
“We recognize that peace and security in the maritime domain underpin the development and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific, and reiterate the importance of respect for sovereignty, consistent with international law,” said a joint statement issued after the meeting.
It added: “We look forward to continuing these discussions at the Quad Maritime Security Working Group meeting hosted by the United States in Washington DC in March 2023.”
Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar said: “Quad is working in 2023 because we have strategic clarity today unlike before.”
Addressing a session on Quad at the Raisina Dialogue, Jaishankar said on Friday the Quad foreign ministers also agreed on a counterterrorism working group, apart from the Maritime Working Group that will meet soon.
The counterterrorism working group will also look at the attempts made by certain countries to politicise the sanctioning of terrorists at the UN.
Addressing the same session organised by ORF, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated that the Quad is “not a military group”.
But, he said, the aim of the Quad is to provide countries with “more choices” at a time when sending out messages against “aggressors” around the world has become imperative.
Resonating the same thought process, Jaishankar said in a tweet: “Reaffirmed that the Quad is ‘for’, not ‘against’. And for an inclusive, resilient, free and open Indo-Pacific.”
Began the day by meeting my Quad counterparts @SenatorWong Yoshimasa Hayashi and @SecBlinken.
Reaffirmed that the Quad is ‘for’, not ‘against’. And for an inclusive,resilient, free and open Indo-Pacific.
Our joint statement: https://t.co/uLPBGYsMZe pic.twitter.com/DjLjZ1DSXK
Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) March 3, 2023
Release Those ‘Arbitrarily Detained’: Quad To Myanmar
According to Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong, the Quad will also seek to create an Indo-Pacific where countries around the region will have freedom of navigation. She said the Quad has engagements at multiple levels.
Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa said the Quad is not against China. He said there will be no problems if China follows rules and abide by laws.
“We unequivocally condemn terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations,” Quad said on counterterrorism.
The Quad again urged Myanmar’s junta to end violence and release those ‘arbitrarily detained’.
“We strongly emphasise the importance of maintaining peace, stability and prosperity and express our deep concern at the deteriorating situation in Myanmar. In this regard, we emphasise the need for a complete cessation of violence, the release of all those arbitrarily detained, resolutions of issues through dialogue, unhindered humanitarian access and transition to an inclusive, federal democratic system in Myanmar,” said the Quad Foreign Ministers’ statement.