India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke with Rubio in the maiden QUAD ministerial meeting. While Jaishankar was the first foreign minister to hold a bilateral meeting with Rubio, it was followed by the foreign ministers from Australia (Penny Wong) and Japan (Takeshi Iwaya). Following the meeting, he posted updates from the meeting.
“Attended a productive Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting today in Washington DC. Thank @secrubio for hosting us and FMs @SenatorWong & Takeshi Iwaya for their participation. Significant that the Quad FMM took place within hours of the inauguration of the Trump Administration. This underlines the priority it has in the foreign policy of its member states,” Jaishankar wrote in the post.
Attended a productive Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting today in Washington DC. Thank @secrubio for hosting us and FMs @SenatorWong & Takeshi Iwaya for their participation.
Significant that the Quad FMM took place within hours of the inauguration of the Trump Administration. This… pic.twitter.com/uGa4rjg1Bw— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) January 21, 2025
Giving insights from the QUAD meeting, he shared that the discussions ranged across various topics, including a focus on Indo-Pacific relations. The minister also shared pictures in which the foreign leaders posed at the State Department at the end of the meeting.
S Jaishankar’s Diplomatic Engagement In The US
Dr S Jaishankar visited Washington on the invitation of the US government to attend Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony. While his engagement began with a meeting at the US State Department’s Foggy Bottom headquarters, it was followed by the first QUAD ministerial meeting on Wednesday.
Jaishankar also addressed the press in Washington DC where he underscored the Trump administration’s enthusiasm for boosting connections with India. “It was clear that the Trump administration is keen to have India present at the inauguration. They are prioritising the bilateral relationship,” he said.
The EAM also noted how the initiatives by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trump had matured paving the way for a more ambitious partnership between the nations. Jaishankar’s diplomatic engagements concluded with a meeting with the White House NSA Mike Waltz.
Great to meet NSA @michaelgwaltz again this afternoon.
Discussed strengthening our friendship to ensure mutual benefit and enhance global stability and prosperity.Looking forward to working together on an active and outcome oriented agenda.
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— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) January 21, 2025
QUAD Nations’ Talk Leaders’ Summit In India
The four nations in a joint statement after the talks in Washington emphasised that the officials will prepare for an upcoming leaders’ summit, set to be held in India this year. It noted that the US Secretary of State along with the foreign ministers of India, Australia, and Japan reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening of free and open Indo-Pacific to uphold and defend the rule of law, democratic values, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
The nations also maintained that international law, economic opportunity, peace, stability, and security are maintained across all domains.
