In a significant diplomatic engagement, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Wednesday addressed US President Donald Trump’s assertion about playing a key role in the India-Pakistan ceasefire. During a press briefing, he stressed India’s stance on terrorism after Operation Sindoor while also presenting views on rising tensions in the South China Sea.
Jaishankar on India-Pakistan Ceasefire and South China Sea Concerns
Responding to US President Donald Trump’s comments about the India-Pakistan ceasefire, Jaishankar clarified, “The record of what happened at that time was very clear, and the ceasefire was something which was negotiated between the DGMOs of the two countries”, news agency ANI reported.
The remarks come in the backdrop of Trump’s repeated attempts at claiming credit for “stopping a potential nuclear war” between India and China. Despite New Delhi’s repeated denials, he claimed that he used trade to get both countries to agree to a ceasefire.
On rising tensions in the South China Sea, Jaishankar noted the shared concerns of Quad members, stating, “On South China Sea, there was some discussion as it is an issue of great concern… The issue is to find a solution to the disputes pertaining to that. The Quad members all have a shared interest because for us it’s a very important international waterway, how to ensuring that it stays calm and free of conflict is something which is a common priority.”
Regarding India’s stance on terrorism, he reiterated, “…What we have communicated very clearly is we mean it when we say there is zero tolerance for terrorism…If you look back at the Prime Minister’s address to the nation after the cessation of firing on the 10th of May, there were some very clear messages which came out of that…It’s really for the terrorist groupings and for their sponsors to absorb and reflect on those messages. I don’t think we are going to spell out if this happens, we will do that. I mean, no government does that.”
“It is a fact that often countries do not take a position when some other countries are victims of terrorism, which they would do when they themselves are. In that respect, honestly, we have been much more consistent and principled. When terror attacks happen elsewhere outside India, we have largely followed the same position that we have taken when they have happened in India…Many of them are not doing it or not doing it sufficiently enough, and part of diplomacy is to exhort them, encourage them, persuade them, and motivate them to do that, and which is why it’s important to speak up, and which is why it’s important to carry them with us to the best possibility,” he further said, as quoted by ANI.
Launch of Quad Critical Minerals Initiative
Highlighting key outcomes of the meeting, Jaishankar announced the launch of the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative aimed at enhancing mineral recovery efforts. “We launched the Quad Critical Minerals initiative and this would be focused particularly on the mineral recovery, which is very important for all of us,” he said at a press conference.
He also detailed the Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network, which will soon conduct its field training exercise. Other initiatives discussed included the Quad at Sea Ship Observer mission involving coast guards, a maritime legal dialogue scheduled virtually later this month, and the expansion of the Indo-Pacific Partnership on Maritime Domain Awareness through the Gurugram Fusion Centre.
Jaishankar revealed that Quad foreign ministers devoted substantial time to addressing regional dynamics, including tensions in the Indo-Pacific and the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict. “In the light of recent developments, it is natural that we also spent some time discussing the Israel-Iran conflict also what the US had done in Iran,” he remarked.
He further shared that a Quad business roundtable on critical minerals was conducted simultaneously with the ministerial talks, bringing together companies from all four Quad nations. “All the Quad ministers, I think we all agreed strongly that our goal in the Quad was to strengthen strategic stability in the Indo-Pacific and in this meeting, the discussions were largely devoted to enhancing delivery on various initiatives and projects,” Jaishankar said.
Next Quad Summit to be Hosted by India
The meeting built upon discussions held during the last Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Washington DC earlier this year. Jaishankar confirmed that India will host the upcoming Quad Leaders’ Summit.
“We expect to hold a Quad summit in India later this year, and we had a useful discussion about preparing for that,” Jaishankar remarked during the press briefing.
The latest Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting saw participation from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Japan’s Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
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