New Delhi: To mark the 20th anniversary of the Quad cooperation, foreign ministers from India, Australia, Japan, and the United States issued a joint statement on Tuesday, reaffirming their commitment to a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific. The statement highlighted the Quad’s shared vision for a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region, underpinned by strong and effective regional institutions.
The ministers reiterated their “unwavering support” for ASEAN’s centrality and unity and committed to advancing the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. They also emphasized the importance of respecting Pacific-led regional frameworks, notably the Pacific Islands Forum, and reaffirmed their steadfast support for the Indian Ocean Rim Association, which plays a key role in the region.
The statement is particularly significant for India, as it prepares to host the next Quad summit in 2025. With concerns about the future of international alliances under the incoming US administration, Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar expressed confidence that former President Donald Trump, if re-elected, would continue his support for the Quad, as he did during his first term. The Quad has gained increasing prominence amid China’s growing assertiveness in the region, and successive US administrations have supported the grouping. While the Quad was revived under Trump with foreign minister-level meetings, President Joe Biden elevated it to a summit-level forum.
Reflecting on the Quad’s origins, the statement recalled that 20 years ago, in the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, the four nations first came together to assist the affected region. The tsunami, one of the deadliest natural disasters in history, claimed nearly 250,000 lives and displaced over 1.7 million people across 14 countries. This cooperation laid the foundation for what is now the Quad grouping, which continues to play a pivotal role in fostering regional security and cooperation.
