'Quad meeting in Delhi shows alliance is alive and kicking'
New Delhi, June 11
The Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in New Delhi last month shows that the alliance is not becoming obsolete; rather, it has gained further credentials as a needed deterrence and fallback because the very strategic environment that created it has become more militarised and the threats have deepened, according to an article.
Attended by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the Foreign Ministers of India, Japan and Australia, the grouping is moving into a more practical phase. The meeting has dispelled doubts that the alliance has weakened due to President Donald Trump's desire to stabilise trade ties with China and possible ambiguity over Taiwan, according to the article in Eurasia Review.
It further highlights that the joint statement from the meeting reaffirmed cooperation on maritime domain awareness, critical minerals, energy security, infrastructure, counter-terrorism and regional resilience, while expressing concern over coercive actions in the South China Sea and East China Sea and opposing unilateral attempts to change the status quo.
One of the most important outcomes was the decision to mobilise around $20 billion in public and private investment for critical minerals supply chains, including mining and processing, to counter China's dominance in rare earths and critical mineral processing, the article observed.
"The Quad understands that securing the Indo-Pacific is not only about naval and military assets with aircraft carriers and missiles, but also increasingly about human capital for the control of logistics, who finances infrastructure, who sees maritime movement first, who processes the minerals needed for defence and technology, and who can keep sea lanes open during a crisis," the article added.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Finally a multilateral forum that delivers on concrete outcomes rather than just talk. The focus on rare earths supply chains is smart—we can't let China have a monopoly on stuff that goes into everything from phones to fighter jets. India is positioning itself well.
The article rightly points out that Quad is evolving beyond naval assets—human capital, logistics control, and maritime domain awareness are the real game-changers. But I'm cautiously optimistic. India must ensure this doesn't become another bloc that drags us into unnecessary conflicts. Diplomacy with all sides should never stop. 🤔
Good to see Quad moving from aspirational to operational. The $20 billion for critical minerals is exactly what's needed to break China's chokehold on rare earths. But I worry about the lack of explicit mention of Taiwan in the joint statement—that ambiguity could be exploited.
This is a critical moment for India. The Quad is a platform where we can assert our strategic autonomy while aligning with like-minded democracies. But we must never forget: China is our largest trading partner. Balancing economic interdependence with security concerns is a tightrope walk. Let's hope our diplomats keep their footing. 🇮🇳
Interesting that the Delhi meeting dispelled doubts about Quad weakening under Trump. The focus on counter-terrorism is welcome, but I hope this isn't just another forum for big powers to dictate terms. India needs to ensure our interests—like freedom of navigation and our own maritime security—stay at the centre of the agenda.
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