US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday said after a meeting with foreign ministers of India, Japan and Australia in New Delhi that Russia cannot be allowed to wage a war that goes with impunity. The Quad group also said in a statement issued after the meeting that the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine is unacceptable.
Late last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin scrapped the Nuclear Arms Control Treaty and threatened to continue nuclear tests.
“If we allow Russia to do with impunity what it is doing in Ukraine, it will send a message to aggressors everywhere that they are capable of doing the same,” Blinken said at a forum in India. ‘ Quad ministers were also present on this stage.
On Friday, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell urged the global community to work together.The foreign ministers of the Quad countries formed a working group to combat terrorism.For a free and open Indo-Pacific region, this 4-member group and said that it ‘strongly supports the rule of law, sovereignty, territorial integrity and peaceful resolution of disputes.’
Quad is a group of 4 countries- India, America, Australia and Japan. All four countries are democracies and support the common interest of free maritime trade and security.
It was announced that a Quad working group will be set up to counter terrorism after the meeting of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, his Japanese counterpart Yoshimasa Hayashi and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
Its purpose is to find ways to counter new and emerging forms of terrorism, radicalization and violent extremism. The ministers committed to work closely on the objectives of the Quad during Japan’s presidency of the G-7, India’s presidency of the G-20 and the US hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in 2023. After the meeting, the four ministers participated in a session of ‘Raisina Dialogue’ and talked about the convergence of interests of the Quad member countries.
Blinken said, ‘For us the future is linked to the Indo-Pacific to a great extent. Our engagement across the region, through the Quad and through other means, is as broad and deep as ever.
Blinken and Wang are in India to attend the G-20 foreign ministers’ meeting, while Hayashi is in Delhi to attend the Quad meeting.
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of the Quad countries said, “Our meeting today reaffirms the Quad’s firm commitment to supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific region that is inclusive.”
The Foreign Ministers of the Quad countries condemned terrorism and violent extremism in all their forms in one voice. They also condemned providing financial or military support to terrorist organizations that could be used in the planning or execution of terrorist attacks. These include terrorist attacks carried out in another country by crossing the border of one country. He also condemned other terrorist attacks, including the Mumbai terror attack on 26 November 2008, and the Pathankot attack. Citizens of Quad countries were also killed in the Mumbai attack.
“We strongly support the principles of independence, rule of law, sovereignty and territorial integrity, freedom of maritime and air transport and peaceful settlement of disputes instead of resorting to threat or use of force,” the statement said.
It said, ‘We oppose any unilateral attempt to change the status quo. All these things are necessary to maintain peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and other regions.
In the statement, the foreign ministers of the four member countries said that the Quad is working as a force for regional and global good and will be guided by the priorities of the Indo-Pacific region through its positive and constructive agenda.
“We are pleased to announce the formation of the Quad Working Group on Counter Terrorism,” he said in the statement. It will also explore cooperation between the Quad and the Indo-Pacific region to combat new and emerging forms of terrorism, ranging from radicalization to violence and violent extremism.
“We look forward to our first meeting in the US in 2023 to continue our discussions on this global issue,” he said.
A few months after the Quad foreign ministers’ meeting, the grouping’s summit in Australia is to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Through the Quad, member countries seek to support the region through practical cooperation on contemporary challenges such as health security, climate change, clean energy adoption, critical and emerging technologies, infrastructure and connectivity, the statement said.
The statement also talked about addressing the debt crisis through sustainable, transparent and fair lending and financing processes.
It added, ‘We agree that the rules-based international order is enshrined in international law, including the United Nations Charter, and the principles of sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity of all states.’
“We remain committed to tackling efforts to unilaterally subvert the United Nations and the international system, in consultation with our partners and through multilateral and international fora,” the statement said. Without directly referring to Chinese interference in the East and South China Seas, the Quad foreign ministers noted the importance of freedom of navigation in sea lanes.
China criticized the Quad meeting
China on Friday once again criticized the Quad group meeting and said that the purpose of talks between countries should be to advance peace and development.
Hitting out at the Quad, China said countries should contribute to mutual trust and regional stability instead of focusing on exclusivity. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said, “We think that countries should make more efforts to contribute to mutual trust, peace and stability at the regional level.”
