Quad to Serve as a Force for Global Good, Says S. Jaishankar in the US

Apart from EAM Jaishankar, the Quad Ministers also decided to step up cooperation among each other. These included new US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australia's Penny Wong and Takeshi Iwaya of Japan.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar was present at the Quad Foreign Ministers' meeting on Tuesday in Washington DC and had discussions with counterparts "on different dimensions" of making Indo-Pacific free and prosperous. Adding, "Quad will continue to be a force of global good.".

Apart from EAM Jaishankar, the Quad Ministers also decided to step up cooperation among each other. These included new US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australia's Penny Wong and Takeshi Iwaya of Japan.

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EAM Jaishankar termed the meeting "significant" as it took place a day after Donald Trump took oath as the 47th US President. "Attended a productive Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting today in Washington DC.

Thank @secrubio for hosting us and FMs @SenatorWong and Takeshi Iwaya for their participation," he said. "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. Our wide-ranging discussions addressed different dimensions of ensuring a free, open, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific," he added.

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"We agreed on the importance of thinking bigger, deepening the agenda and intensifying our collaboration. This meeting today sends an unmistakable signal that in an increasingly uncertain and volatile world, Quad will continue being a force for global good," he further stated. Quad is a strategic group that aims at countering Beijing's military belligerence towards the South China Sea, and Beijing insists on claiming all of it as its own".

EAM S Jaishankar also held a bilateral meeting with Rubio, his first ever bilateral meeting after assuming the US Secretary of State office. Leaders reviewed the bilateral ties and discussed several regional and global issues with each other. "Delighted to meet @secrubio for his first bilateral meeting after assumption of office as Secretary of State.

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Reviewed our extensive bilateral partnership, of which @secrubio has been a strong advocate. Also exchanged views on a wide range of regional and global issues. Look forward to closely working with him to advance our strategic cooperation," he tweeted.

The EAM also met US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and said he looked forward to "working together on an active and outcome-oriented agenda". "Great to meet NSA @michaelgwaltz again this afternoon.". Discussed strengthening our friendship to ensure mutual benefit and enhance global stability and prosperity,” he said.

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Jaishankar is in the US Capital where he attended Trump's inauguration at the Capitol Rotunda. He said it was a great honour to represent India at the oath-taking ceremony of Trump and J.D. Vance as the Vice President. Jaishankar also carried a letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Trump, sources said on Monday. The EAM was seated in the front row at the inauguration ceremony of Trump.

This was interpreted as an overt statement that India was eager to maintain a strong relationship with the Trump administration. EAM Jaishankar sat in the first row alongside Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa. Two rows back, his Japanese and Australian counterparts sat behind him at the ceremony.

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