Quad launches Indo-Pacific energy security initiative amid China concerns

(From left) Australian FM Penny Wong, EAM S Jaishankar, Japanese FM Toshimitsu Motegiand US Secretary of State Marco Rubio during the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday. PIC/PTI

The Quad grouping on Tuesday expanded cooperation in critical minerals and energy while unveiling new measures to boost maritime surveillance and port infrastructure across the Indo-Pacific against the backdrop of China's growing military posturing in the region.

The new measures were announced following a meeting of the grouping's foreign ministers here, chaired by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and attended by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi.

The foreign ministers reiterated the importance of ensuring unimpeded freedom of navigation and uninterrupted flow of global commerce, including in the Strait of Hormuz, and opposed any restrictive measures hampering the flow of commercial vessels.

"We affirm our support for a free and open Indo-Pacific that allows countries to develop resilience and strengthen capacity to determine their own paths. To that end, we concur on further enhancing cooperation and advancing concrete initiatives to deliver tangible benefits to the region," the ministers said.

In his media statement, Jaishankar announced a critical minerals framework and Indo-Pacific energy security initiative under broader Quad agenda to confront major challenges facing the region.

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