The QUAD nations—United States, India, Australia, and Japan — will expand their maritime security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. The QUAD countries also further agreed to collaborate on supplies of vital minerals and rare earths that are key components of high-tech production.
The foreign ministers of the four countries, known as the "QUAD", met in Washington on Tuesday as US President Donald Trump's administration seeks to expand USA's influence in the Indo-Pacific in order to contest China's rising influence amid tensions with partners over trade and defense issues.
In the meeting, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the QUAD should be a "vehicle for action" that goes beyond statements of intent. Rubio then highlighted that commerce and trade will be essential to assuring the group's relevancy in the future.
Following the meeting, a joint statement of the four nations announced the launch of a "Quad Critical Minerals Initiative." The aim of this initiative will be "to fortify economic security and collective resilience by collaborating on securing and diversifying critical mineral supply chains."
Also Read: Quad urges UN states to help bring Pahalgam killers to book
"We are deeply concerned about the abrupt constriction and future reliability of key supply chains, specifically for critical minerals. This includes the use of non-market policies and practices for critical minerals, certain derivative products, and mineral processing technology", the statement adds.
Concern over rising tensions in the East and South China Seas -
There was no direct mention of China in the statement by name, but the Chinese domination of the crucial minerals supply chain has long been a matter of concern for the US and other countries. The ministers then expressed apprehension about rising tensions in the East and South China Seas, where Beijing has become increasingly assertive of maritime and territorial claims that are rejected by its smaller neighbours.
"We reiterate our strong opposition to any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion. We express our serious concerns regarding dangerous and provocative actions, including interference with offshore resource development, the repeated obstruction of the freedoms of navigation and overflight, and the dangerous maneuvers by military aircraft and coast guard and maritime militia vessels, especially the unsafe use of water cannons and ramming or blocking actions in the South China Sea", they stated.
Also Read: Pahalgam attack was an act of economic terrorism: EAM
Condemned North Korea for launching ballistic missiles -
The statement also condemned North Korea for continuing to launch ballistic missiles, expand its nuclear weapons program, and engage in malicious cyber activity.
In a veiled reference to North Korean support for Russia in its war against Ukraine, the QUAD nations expressed "deep concern about countries that are deepening military cooperation with North Korea, which directly undermines the global nonproliferation regime".
Follow us
