Focus on Quad as PM Modi heads to Japan; US reaffirms commitment to Quad

Quad is an important platform for working on and promoting peace, stability, prosperity, and development in the Indo-Pacific region and India looks forward to working with all partners to take this cooperation forward, said foreign secretary Vikram Misri amid the uncertainty hanging over the Quad summit India would like to host in November. The remarks came ahead of PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Japan this week, during which the 2 sides will review cooperation to promote a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.

Significantly, the US joined India in reaffirming in a joint statement its commitment to promoting a safer, stronger and more Indo-Pacific region through the Quad in a virtual 2 + 2 Intersessional Dialogue between senior officials this week.

Misri said that Quad cooperation will be discussed when Modi meets his Japan counterpart Shigeru Ishiba for the annual India-Japan visit on Friday. Modi will depart on Thursday for a 2-day visit to Japan en route to China.

Some of the likely outcomes from Modi’s visit to Japan include an upgrade of the 2008 joint declaration on security cooperation to make it more in sync with current realities and an announcement, as reported by the Japanese media last week, by Japan about investment worth $ 68 billion in India over the next 10 years.

The 2 sides will look to boost defence and security cooperation with focus on defence exercises and technology transfer, while also launching an economic security initiative. During the visit, Modi is also likely to travel in a bullet train from Tokyo to Sendai where he’s expected to visit a semiconductor facility.

Japan is also hoping that India and the US will be able to resolve their differences in time for a successful Quad summit later this year. With India-US ties in a flux, it’s anybody’s guess as to whether President Donald Trump will visit India for the summit this year.

Misri said that in recent years, Quad’s agenda has expanded to take on issues of practical cooperation and health security. “It covers critical and emerging technologies. There's an initiative with regard to critical minerals that has been discussed recently. Overall, with regard to how to make supply chains more resilient, and also infrastructure development. So, these are all issues that are a priority, both for India and for Japan,” said Misri.

“Both our countries attach high value to this forum and to this partnership. And we look forward to working with all Quad partners to take our cooperation forward. I'm sure when the two prime ministers meet, the Quad will be a subject that will be discussed between the two of them,’’ he added.


Select The Times of India as your preferred source on Google Search