‘Quad advancing positive vision for Indo-Pacific region’

Washington: Some prominent American Congressmen have welcomed the recent meeting of foreign ministers from the US, India, Australia and Japan, saying the “critical partnership” of the Quad grouping was advancing a positive vision for the future of the strategic Indo-Pacific region rooted in shared values.

The foreign ministers of Quad or Quadrilateral Security Dialogue last week met in Melbourne where they vowed to expand cooperation to keep the Indo-Pacific free from “coercion”, denounced the use of terrorist proxies for cross-border terrorism, assessed the Ukraine crisis and asserted that Afghan territory should not be used to threaten or attack any country.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar were part of the Quad meeting on February 11. “As the Democratic and Republican co-chairs of the Congressional Caucuses for Japan, Australia, and India, we take note of the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting that took place in Melbourne, Australia,” said a Joint Statement issued by Co-Chairs of Congressional Japan, Australia, and India Caucuses, and HFAC Asia Subcommittee on Monday.

“As staunch supporters of closer relations between the United States and Japan, Australia, and India, we are pleased to see the further development of this critical partnership through last week’s ministerial meeting. We will continue to work in a bipartisan manner to assist in that development from Congress,” it said.

By advancing cooperation on Covid-19 vaccination delivery, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, the environment, maritime security, counterterrorism, cybersecurity, combating foreign disinformation campaigns and economic coercion, as well as standards for critical and emerging technologies, the Quad is advancing a positive vision for the future of the Indo-Pacific rooted in shared values and supported by the unique capabilities of the member countries, the statement said. — AP