US-India ties strengthen as Jaishankar meets secretary Rubio
World news: EAM Jaishankar’s participation in the Quad meeting and bilateral talks with US Secretary Marco Rubio emphasized strategic collaboration in the Indo-Pacific, alongside India-France maritime security commitments.
World news: On Tuesday, India’s External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar attended the inaugural Quad ministerial meeting under the new Donald Trump administration. The summit, held in Washington DC, brought together foreign ministers Penny Wong of Australia, Takeshi Iwaya of Japan, and host Marco Rubio of the United States. Quad, a strategic grouping of four nations, focuses on ensuring stability, peace, and adherence to international law in the Indo-Pacific region.
Attended a productive Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting today in Washington DC. Thank @secrubio for hosting us and FMs @SenatorWong & Takeshi Iwaya for their participation.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) January 21, 2025
Significant that the Quad FMM took place within hours of the inauguration of the Trump Administration. This… pic.twitter.com/uGa4rjg1Bw
“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 shared on X, emphasizing the collaborative spirit of the session.
Significance of the meeting
Jaishankar highlighted the urgency and priority of the Quad initiative, noting that the meeting occurred mere hours after the Trump administration's inauguration. Discussions spanned topics such as maintaining a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific. “Agreed on the importance of thinking bigger, deepening the agenda and intensifying our collaboration,” Jaishankar stated. He reiterated that Quad’s commitment signals its role as a stabilizing force amid global uncertainty.
Bilateral meeting with Marco Rubio
In a historic first, Jaishankar met with newly appointed US Secretary of State Marco Rubio for an extensive bilateral discussion lasting over an hour. Their meeting underscored the importance of India-US ties, particularly in strengthening strategic and regional cooperation.
Following the Quad meeting, Rubio expressed optimism about working with allies to address shared priorities, stating, “The Quad’s unity underscores the value of collaboration in addressing global challenges.”
India-France collaboration on maritime security
In related developments, India and France have reaffirmed their commitment to maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Both nations agreed to strengthen mechanisms for information exchange, including enhanced cooperation between the Indian Ocean Information Fusion Centre in Gurugram and its counterparts in Seychelles and Madagascar.
“Both sides agreed to explore opportunities for coordinated surveillance to counter threats to maritime security,” the Ministry of External Affairs stated after the 7th India-France Maritime Cooperation Dialogue.
