Foreign ministers from the Quad nations of India, Australia, Japan, and the United States announced new initiatives on maritime security, port infrastructure, and energy during talks in New Delhi on Tuesday. The initiative aimed to boost cooperation in the Indo-Pacific to combat concerns regarding China’s rising influence.
The meeting was attended by India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, U.S Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
After the meeting, Rubio announced an Indo-Pacific maritime surveillance initiative to combine the Quad nations’ surveillance capabilities and strengthen real-time information sharing across the region. He said the four countries would work with Fiji to upgrade port infrastructure in the Pacific islands. The initiative would be Quad’s first joint regional infrastructure project.
Rubio said that the ministers also launched an Indo-Pacific energy security initiative aimed at strengthening regional fuels and energy supply chains. The U.S Secretary of State declared that the United States is set to host a Quad fuel security forum later this year.
“We are deeply committed to this partnership. It is a linchpin in a cornerstone of our global strategy as a nation,” he said.
India and the United States also signed a deal to strengthen cooperation on critical minerals due to global concerns over reliance on China-dominated supplies.
China responded to the announcements, asserting that cooperation among countries should promote regional peace and stability and not target third parties.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said in Beijing, “We do not support forming exclusive small groupings or bloc confrontation. Any cooperation should not undermine mutual trust and cooperation among regional countries.”
Quad members had previously accused China of using its military power in the South China Sea and pushing its maritime territorial claims.
Rubio said officials were working towards a summit of the four nations’ top leaders later this year, although a schedule has not been announced.
