New Delhi, July 22: In a significant meeting held on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit, foreign ministers from India, the United States, Australia, and Japan convened to discuss crucial regional issues. Following their discussions, they issued a joint statement emphasizing the importance of a free and open Indo-Pacific. The commitment to strengthen cooperation with ASEAN was reiterated.
The joint statement was released by India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Japan’s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the foreign ministers met in Manila to reaffirm their unwavering support for ASEAN’s unity and central role in the region. They also highlighted their deep engagement in the region’s success and their commitment to enhancing cooperation with ASEAN and its member states.
The Quad leaders discussed regional challenges and opportunities, agreeing to strengthen the practical implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) through shared priority areas such as maritime and international security, economic prosperity and security, critical and emerging technologies, as well as humanitarian assistance and disaster response.
The joint statement further emphasized that the four nations are united in their belief that peace and stability in the maritime domain of the Indo-Pacific are foundational to the security and prosperity of the entire region.
Minister Jaishankar also shared insights from the meeting on social media. He expressed his satisfaction in participating in the Quad foreign ministers’ meeting in Manila. He noted, “The current state of the Indo-Pacific region was reviewed, and recent developments were discussed. We reaffirmed our commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, acknowledging ASEAN’s central role.”
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