Foreign ministers of Quad countries meet in Delhi; reaffirm commitment to free and open Indo Pacific

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong attended the Quad Foreign Ministers meet on the sildelines of the Raisina Dialogue 2023 in Delhi.

The foreign ministers of Quad countries on Friday reaffirmed the grouping's commitment for a free and open Indo-Pacific, and said it strongly supports the principles of rule of law, sovereignty and territorial integrity and peaceful settlement of disputes.

At a meeting presided over by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and attended by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, his Japanese counterpart Yoshimasa Hayashi, and Australia's Penny Wong, the Quad foreign ministers conducted a detailed evaluation of the Indo-Pacific situation.

The summit took place against the backdrop of growing global alarm over China's growing aggressiveness in the area.

The Ministers also examined the Quad's progress in pursuing its constructive agenda and implementing measures targeted at addressing contemporary regional challenges.

Free and open Indo-Pacific

"Our meeting today reaffirms the Quad's steadfast commitment to supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific, which is inclusive and resilient," a joint statement said.

"We strongly support the principles of freedom, rule of law, sovereignty and territorial integrity, peaceful settlement of disputes without resorting to threat or use of force and freedom of navigation and overflight, and oppose any unilateral attempt to change the status quo, all of which are essential to the peace, stability and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region and beyond," it said.

The foreign ministers stated that the Quad is a force for regional and global good, and that its positive and constructive agenda will be directed by the Indo-Pacific region's priorities.

According to the statement, the Quad seeks to support the region through practical cooperation on contemporary challenges such as health security, climate change and the transition to renewable energy, critical and emerging technologies, infrastructure, and connectivity.

(With PTI inputs)