Quad ministers to meet in Philippines: US Ambassador

Washington, June 30 (IANS) The foreign ministers of the Quad countries are expected to meet in the Philippines in about two weeks, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor announced, saying the grouping remained central to advancing a free, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

Speaking at the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) Leadership Summit, Gor said the proposed meeting would bring together the foreign ministers of the United States, India, Japan and Australia on the sidelines of engagements in the Philippines.

“I wanna make an announcement here today,” Gor said.

“We were very pleased to have the Quad meeting in Delhi, and that’s something we aim to build up.”

“One of the things that we’re actually looking to do is in about two weeks, all four of our foreign ministers will be in the Philippines and we’ll look forward to having a Quad meeting on the sidelines of the Philippines.”

Gor said the meeting would be followed by another ministerial gathering in Australia before leaders of the four countries meet at a future summit.

“We do aim to have a Quad meeting at some point, a ministerial Quad meeting in Australia.”

“And followed ultimately by a leaders meeting which we’re trying to nail down. That would include President Trump coming to India.”

The ambassador said maritime security remained one of the principal priorities for the Quad.

“The Quad is extremely important,” he said.

He noted that one of the initiatives announced during the recent Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi involved strengthening maritime capabilities across the Indo-Pacific.

“One of the deliverables that was announced in Delhi was that the four countries will focus on building boats in the region. That includes Fiji specifically.”

“We wanna make sure that we are present in the Pacific. We’re growing, we’re enhancing our security, and we’re working with trusted partners.”

“And India is on that list, very high that list.”

Gor also dismissed suggestions that the India-US defence partnership had weakened, saying practical cooperation continued to expand.

“India still has more exercises with the United States than any other country by far.”

“Every single month there’s something happening, whether it’s Indian troops coming here, whether it’s US troops going into the region.”

He said another Indian Navy delegation was expected to travel to the United States within the next two weeks.

The ambassador said the United States viewed India as one of its most trusted strategic partners in the Indo-Pacific and intended to continue deepening cooperation across defence, maritime security, advanced technology and regional stability.

The Quad, comprising Australia, India, Japan and the United States, has emerged as one of the principal strategic groupings in the Indo-Pacific. While not a formal military alliance, it focuses on promoting a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific through cooperation on maritime security, critical technologies, resilient supply chains, infrastructure, cybersecurity and humanitarian assistance.

The grouping has gained increasing prominence amid growing strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific. In recent years, the four countries have expanded cooperation through leaders’ summits, foreign ministers’ meetings and the annual Malabar naval exercise, while also working together on critical and emerging technologies, vaccine partnerships and maritime domain awareness.

–IANS

lkj/rs