External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday attended the maiden Quad ministerial of the new Donald Trump administration. Soon after the meeting, he met the newly appointed US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, for their first bilateral meeting, lasting for more than an hour.
S Jaishankar became the first foreign minister to hold a bilateral meeting with Marco Rubio.
The Quad meeting was also attended by foreign ministers, Penny Wong from Australia and Takeshi Iwaya from Japan.
Quad is a grouping of four countries aimed at maintaining peace and law and order in the Indo-Pacific region.
“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,” Jaishankar posted on X after 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… pic.twitter.com/uGa4rjg1Bw
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) January 21, 2025
Jaishankar pointed out that the Quad foreign ministers’ meeting took place within hours of the inauguration of the Donald Trump administration. According to him, this underlined the priority the group has in the foreign policy of its member states. He also said the group’s wide-ranging discussions addressed different dimensions of ensuring a free, open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
“Agreed on the importance of thinking bigger, deepening the agenda and intensifying our collaboration. The meeting today sends a clear message that in an uncertain and volatile world, the Quad will continue to be a force for global good,” the EAM added.
The four Quad leaders posed for a group picture at the State Department towards the end of the hour-long meeting. However, they did not take any questions from the press.
The meeting was to reaffirm the importance of working with allies across the world on things that are important to America and Americans, Rubio told NBC News earlier in the day.
After their bilateral meeting post the Quad session, Rubio and Jaishankar appeared before a pooled press for a photo session, shaking hands and smiling at the cameras.
Delighted to meet @secrubio for his first bilateral meeting after assumption of office as Secretary of State.
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… pic.twitter.com/NVpBUEAyHK
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) January 21, 2025
“Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar today in Washington, D.C. Secretary Rubio and External Affairs Minister Jaishankar affirmed a shared commitment to continuing to strengthen the partnership between the United States and India. They discussed a wide range of topics, including regional issues and opportunities to further deepen the US-India relationship, in particular on critical and emerging technologies, defense cooperation, energy, and on advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific region,” State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said.
Bruce added that during the meeting secretary Rubio also emphasized the Trump Administration’s desire to work with India to advance economic ties and address concerns related to irregular migration.
Jaishankar, who is here at the invitation of the US government to attend the presidential inauguration, also had a meeting with the US National Security Advisor (NSA) Mike Waltz at the White House.
India and France agree on maritime security in the Indian Ocean
In other news, India and France have agreed to explore opportunities for coordinated surveillance to counter threats to maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The two countries also committed to support each other in maritime security engagements.
