QUAD Foreign Minister’s Meet 2024

Why in news

Recently, the Quad Foreign Ministers met in Tokyo to reaffirm their commitment to the international order and enhance stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.

What is QUAD?

• QUAD- Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, is an informal strategic forum of security.
• Establishment- It was established in 2007, which was first proposed by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
• The group met for the first time in 2007 on the sidelines of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).
• Objectives- To keep Indo-Pacific Sea routes free from military or political influence and counter Chinese dominance.
• To promote a rules-based global order, freedom of navigation, and work for a free, open, prosperous and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.
• Members- USA, India, Australia, and Japan.

What are key affirmations in the meeting?

• UN Charter- It reviewed progress from previous Quad meetings, reaffirming commitment to the UN Charter, a free and open Indo-Pacific, and sustainable development goals.
• Women participation – They affirmed the important role of women and girls in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and in peacebuilding.
• Health Security – As part of commitment under the Quad Health Security Partnership, the Quad efforts in 2024 include training for public health specialists from Southeast Asia to build capability to respond to regional health emergencies.
• Information environment - They reaffirmed to protect the information environment by supporting media freedom as well as addressing foreign information manipulation and interference.
• Emerging technologies- It also focused on critical and emerging technologies (CET), and cyber security.
• They welcome the establishment of the Quad Cyber Ambassadors Meeting and intend to accelerate their capacity building projects such as
  • The conference on cyber capacity building in the Philippines
  • The forthcoming Quad Cyber Bootcamp in India.
• Space technologies – They recognized the essential contribution of space-related applications and technologies in the Indo-Pacific.
• We call upon all States to contribute to the safe, peaceful, responsible, and sustainable use of outer space.
• Climate crisis – They recognized the urgent need to address the climate crisis and recall their commitment to the Quad Statement of Principles on Clean Energy Supply Chains in the Indo-Pacific, and the Clean Energy Supply Chains initiative.

Under the Quad Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Package (Q-CHAMP), QUAD nations continue to work together with Indo-Pacific partners to enhance climate and clean energy cooperation as well as promote adaptation and resilience to climate impact.

• SDG – They affirmed in their commitment to the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in a comprehensive manner that is balanced across 3 dimensions – economic, social and environmental.
• Gaza ceasefire – They welcomed UNSC Resolution S/RES/2735 (2024), and strongly urge all parties concerned to work immediately and steadily toward the release of all hostages and an immediate ceasefire.
• Supporting ASEAN’s role - They reaffirmed their strong support for ASEAN leadership in seeking a resolution to the Myanmar crisis, including through the implementation of
  • The Five-Point Consensus
  • The constructive efforts of the ASEAN Chair and ASEAN Special Envoy to Myanmar
• Humanitarian assistance - It was identified as a critical area for collaboration, reaffirming the importance of ASEAN centrality in regional affairs.
• Maritime conflicts- It covered East and South China Sea maritime conflicts and planned a Quad maritime legal dialogue.
• Connectivity – They reaffirmed their commitment to improving the region’s connectivity through the development of resilient infrastructure like Quad Partnership for Cable Connectivity and Resilience, including the establishment of the
  • Cable Connectivity and Resilience Centre in Australia
  • Training of over 1,000 telecom officials and executives in the region under the United States CABLES program
• They also applaud the expansion of Quad Infrastructure Fellowships to more than 2,200 for project developers and managers in the Indo-Pacific.

What are the concerns expressed in the summit?

The United States will host the next Quad Foreign Ministers' meeting in 2025.

What lies ahead?

• Evolve partnership that delivers outcomes and offers solutions to regional and international challenges.
• Continue to focus on reinforcing regional collaboration and exploring new avenues for cooperation for extending benefits beyond the Quad nations to the broader international community.

India to host QUAD Summit 2024 and thus it is exploring new agenda items such as disaster resilience, digital and critical emerging technologies, and physical connectivity.

References

1. The Print | Quad foreign ministers meeting
2. Business standard | Quad
3. Ministry of External Affair | Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting