India, US, Japan and Australia review security and technology ties ahead of next ministers’ meeting…reports Asian Lite News Desk
Senior officials from India, the United States, Japan and Australia have reviewed progress on maritime security, critical technologies and economic cooperation as the four-nation Quad prepares for its next foreign ministers’ meeting.
India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri hosted the Quad Sherpas’ meeting in New Delhi on Thursday, bringing together senior representatives from the four member countries to assess ongoing initiatives and discuss priorities for future cooperation.
The United States was represented by Sergio Gor, Special Envoy to South and Central Asia and US Ambassador to India. Australia was represented by Elly Lawson, a deputy secretary in its foreign ministry, while Japan sent Senior Deputy Foreign Minister Hiroyuki Namazu.
According to the US State Department, the meeting followed the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in New Delhi on May 26 and was aimed at advancing its outcomes while preparing for the next ministerial gathering.
“The Sherpas reviewed progress across ongoing Quad initiatives and discussed ways to further strengthen practical cooperation, with a shared commitment to advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific,” the State Department said.
Discussions focused on a range of strategic priorities, including maritime and transnational security, economic prosperity and security, critical and emerging technologies, as well as humanitarian assistance and emergency response.
The officials also exchanged views on developments across the Indo-Pacific and wider regional and global issues.
The Quad Sherpas reaffirmed the importance of concentrating on practical initiatives capable of delivering concrete results, the State Department said, adding that consultations would continue in the lead-up to the next Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.
The latest discussions come as the Quad increasingly expands its agenda beyond conventional security cooperation.
While maritime security and the promotion of a free and open Indo-Pacific remain central to the grouping, India, the US, Japan and Australia have also stepped up collaboration on critical technologies, resilient supply chains, infrastructure, economic security and disaster preparedness.
In recent years, the Quad has sought to position itself as a platform for practical regional cooperation, including initiatives on maritime domain awareness, emerging technologies and humanitarian assistance during natural disasters and other emergencies.
The four countries have also placed growing emphasis on strengthening economic resilience and reducing vulnerabilities in critical supply chains amid rising geopolitical uncertainty.
The Quad, comprising India, the United States, Japan and Australia, has emerged as one of the key strategic partnerships operating in the Indo-Pacific, with its members regularly holding consultations at senior official, ministerial and leaders’ levels.
Thursday’s Sherpas’ meeting underlined the group’s continued focus on translating its broad strategic commitments into action-oriented initiatives ahead of the next gathering of Quad foreign ministers.
