US, January 22, 2025 (Punjab Khabarnama Bureau): External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday attended the maiden Quad ministerial of the new Donald Trump administration. Soon after the meeting, he met the newly appointed US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, for their first bilateral meeting, lasting for more than an hour.
S Jaishankar became the first foreign minister to hold a bilateral meeting with Marco Rubio.
The Quad meeting was also attended by foreign ministers, Penny Wong from Australia and Takeshi Iwaya from Japan.
Quad is a grouping of four countries aimed at maintaining peace and law and order in the Indo-Pacific region.
Jaishankar pointed out that the Quad foreign ministers’ meeting took place within hours of the inauguration of the Donald Trump administration. According to him, this underlined the priority the group has in the foreign policy of its member states. He also said the group’s wide-ranging discussions addressed different dimensions of ensuring a free, open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
“Agreed on the importance of thinking bigger, deepening the agenda and intensifying our collaboration. The meeting today sends a clear message that in an uncertain and volatile world, the Quad will continue to be a force for global good,” the EAM added.
Summary: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar participated in the first Quad meeting under the new Donald Trump administration in the US. During his visit, he held discussions with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, focusing on strengthening regional security and economic cooperation among Quad nations.