Jaishankar: Quad is Expanding and Becoming a Leading Model of Multilateral Coordination

New Delhi, December 6: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar emphasized the expanding influence of the Quad grouping, calling it “one of the most expansive forms of intergovernmental coordination” during his address at the India-Japan Forum on Friday. He also credited the Trump administration for playing a pivotal role in the rebooting of the Quad, which began at the vice minister’s level in 2017.

Jaishankar noted that the Quad, a diplomatic partnership between Australia, India, Japan, and the United States, has evolved significantly since its revival. He acknowledged that the Trump administration deserves considerable credit for this growth, recalling how it initially launched the Quad’s resurgence, first at a vice ministerial level in 2017 and later at the foreign minister’s level in 2019.

Speaking about the Quad’s impact, Jaishankar stated, “The Quad was actually restarted by the Trump administration. In fact, 2017, the first year of Trump’s presidency, marked the beginning of the process. By 2020, amidst the global lockdown, one of the few physical diplomatic meetings was a Quad meeting in Tokyo. The fact that the Quad has since advanced validates the judgment of the Trump administration.”

Jaishankar also addressed concerns about America’s role in international alliances, particularly President Trump’s views on burden-sharing. He stressed that such concerns don’t apply to the Quad, as each member “pays their fair share” in this multilateral collaboration. He likened the arrangement to “everyone splitting the bill” at a dinner, where all countries contribute equitably to the partnership’s goals.

In response to a question about potential concerns within the Quad about India’s role, Jaishankar referred to debates among the member nations over differences in policy. He shared that, at times, some Indian voices had referred to Japan as a “weak link,” while acknowledging that such discussions are part of the natural evolution of any alliance with diverse histories. Jaishankar further added that, in earlier stages, Australia had expressed doubts about the Quad’s future, but these phases of uncertainty have passed.

Today, Jaishankar asserted, the Quad is stronger than ever. “I don’t think there is a weak link in the Quad at all,” he said, highlighting how the group continues to gain momentum, meeting regularly at various levels, and growing both in scope and significance. He pointed out that key figures such as Mike Pompeo and Tony Blinken have consistently highlighted the Quad as one of their major diplomatic achievements.

Looking ahead, Jaishankar confirmed that, at the request of the United States, India will host the next Quad Leaders’ Summit in 2025. This summit will follow a series of Quad summits, including the first virtual summit in 2021, the first in-person summit in Washington in 2021, and subsequent summits held in Japan and Hiroshima.

With the Quad continuing to thrive and expand its agenda, Jaishankar’s comments underscore its growing importance on the global stage and its role as a model of international cooperation.