‘Quad is here to stay, here to do and here to grow,’ says S Jaishankar at Quad foreign ministers’ meeting

Only the Quad nations' collaboration can ensure that the Indo-Pacific region remains free, open, stable and secure, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Monday, insisting that the grouping is here “to stay and grow”.

In his opening statement at the Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting in Tokyo, Jaishankar said the Quad's commitment to doing global good resonates far beyond the region.

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“These are not easy times, a major challenge is to ensure global economic growth while also de-risking it. Supply chains are a particular focus for resilience, just as we push for trusted and transparent digital partnerships. The march of technology has also acquired extraordinary proportions, holding possibilities of the very manner in which we live, think and act. In a sense, we are in the midst of a re-globalisation,” Jaishankar added.

EAM noted that at the same time, it is only our collective endeavours that can proof the international system against disruptions - manmade or natural. “But we have significant additional responsibilities as well,” he said.

Jaishankar further stressed, “As political democracies, pluralistic societies and market economies, there is a key question of upholding a rules-based order. Only our collaboration can ensure that the Indo-Pacific remains free, open, stable, secure and prosperous. The commitment to doing global good that we have all undertaken has a resonance far beyond this region.”

He added, “It is, therefore, essential that our political understanding strengthens, our economic partnerships grow, our technology collaborations expand and our people-to-people comfort intensifies. Our meeting should send a clear message that the Quad is here to stay, here to do and here to grow.”

Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting Joint Statement

UNCLOS

Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting Joint statement noted, “We emphasize the importance of adherence to international law, particularly as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), to address challenges to the global maritime rules-based order, including with respect to maritime claims, and in the South and East China Seas. We are seriously concerned about the situation in the East and South China Seas and reiterate our strong opposition to any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion.”

It added, “We emphasize the importance of maintaining and upholding freedom of navigation and overflight, other lawful uses of sea, and unimpeded commerce consistent with international law. We re-emphasize the universal and unified character of UNCLOS and reaffirm that UNCLOS sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and the seas must be carried out. We reiterate that the award rendered by the Arbitral Tribunal on July 12, 2016, is a significant milestone, and the basis for peacefully resolving disputes between the parties.”

Terrorism

Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting Joint Statement stressed, "We unequivocally condemn terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations including cross-border terrorism. We deplore the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), drones, tunnels and information and communication technologies by terrorists and terrorist entities. We strongly reiterate our condemnation of terrorist attacks, including the 26/11 Mumbai and Pathankot attacks and call for bringing the perpetrators of these attacks to justice without delay."

“We reiterate the call for concerted action against all UN-listed terrorist groups including Al-Qa’ida, ISIS/Daesh, Lashkar e-Tayyiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), and their proxy groups,” it said.

Humanitarian crisis in Gaza

Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting Joint statement said, “We share great interest in achieving peace and stability in the Middle East. We unequivocally condemn the terror attacks on October 7, 2023. The large-scale loss of civilian lives and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is unacceptable. We affirm the imperative of securing the release of all hostages held by Hamas, and emphasize that the deal to release hostages would bring an immediate and prolonged ceasefire in Gaza.”

It further read, “We underscore the urgent need to significantly increase deliveries of life-saving humanitarian assistance throughout Gaza as well as the crucial need to prevent regional escalation. We urge all parties to comply with international law, including international humanitarian law, as applicable. We welcome UNSC Resolution S/RES/2735 (2024), and strongly urge all parties concerned to work immediately and steadily toward the release of all hostages and an immediate ceasefire.”

The joint statement further noted, “We call on all parties to take every feasible step to protect lives of civilians including aid workers, and facilitate the rapid transportation of humanitarian relief. We also encourage other countries, including those in the Indo-Pacific, to increase their efforts to address the dire humanitarian need on the ground. We underscore that the future recovery and reconstruction of the Gaza Strip should be supported by the international community.”

It said, “We remain committed to a sovereign, viable and independent Palestinian state taking into account Israel’s legitimate security concerns as part of a two-state solution that enables both Israelis and Palestinians to live in a just, lasting, and secure peace. Any unilateral actions that undermine the prospect of a two-state solution, including Israeli expansion of settlements and violent extremism on all sides, must end. We underscore the need to prevent the conflict from escalating and spilling over in the region.”

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In November 2017, India, Japan, the US, and Australia formally established the Quad to devise a strategy for safeguarding the critical sea routes in the Indo-Pacific region from external influence.

The South China Sea, situated at the crossroads of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, is a focal point of contention. China asserts ownership over most of the South China Sea, while the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan have competing claims over the maritime area.

(With inputs from agencies)