Quad foreign ministers reaffirm support for free, open Indo-Pacific and ASEAN centrality

Manila. The foreign ministers of India, Australia and Japan and the US Secretary of State on July 22 reaffirmed their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific and reiterated their support for ASEAN unity and centrality amid evolving regional security challenges.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held discussions in Manila as part of their engagement as ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partners.

The four ministers emphasised their strong stake in the Indo-Pacific’s stability and prosperity and expressed their commitment to working closely with ASEAN and its member states.

During the meeting, they discussed regional challenges and ways to provide greater support for the practical implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP). Their discussions focused on shared priorities, including maritime and transnational security, economic prosperity and security, critical and emerging technologies, and humanitarian assistance and emergency response.

The four countries also stressed that peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific’s maritime domain are fundamental to ensuring the region’s security and economic prosperity.

The meeting comes amid growing strategic and security challenges in the Indo-Pacific, with the four countries seeking to deepen coordination with ASEAN while promoting a rules-based regional order and strengthening cooperation across key areas of shared interest.