External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday said the Indo-Pacific must continue to serve as a major engine of global growth and stability, as he chaired the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi. The high-level dialogue brought together top diplomats from India, the United States, Australia and Japan to review regional security and economic priorities.

The meeting was attended by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi. In his opening remarks, Jaishankar emphasised the importance of “trusted and transparent” partnerships to ensure peace, stability and prosperity across the Indo-Pacific region.

Jaishankar said the Quad’s core mandate remains firmly focused on the Indo-Pacific, particularly at a time when global supply chains face increasing pressure. He highlighted issues such as supply chain resilience, connectivity bottlenecks, concentration of critical resources and gaps in infrastructure as key challenges that require stronger multilateral cooperation.

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He added that maritime democracies and market economies share a collective responsibility to ensure a “free and open Indo-Pacific.” According to him, strengthening strategic confidence, securing maritime routes and expanding economic opportunities will require deeper collaborative frameworks among like-minded nations.

The discussions also took place against the backdrop of growing concerns over regional security dynamics and China’s expanding military presence in the Indo-Pacific. Jaishankar, without directly naming specific concerns, said the region must address emerging strategic challenges through enhanced cooperation and coordinated responses.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the Quad must continue to build momentum and remain an effective platform for cooperation. She reiterated the group’s shared commitment to a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific, underscoring the strategic importance of sustained engagement among the four partner countries.

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