India’s Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar highlighted the political pluralism and unity displayed by India’s All-Party delegations and provided insights into the progress of the Quad’s initiatives during a press conference in Washington, D.C.
India’s Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar emphasized the global advocacy efforts of seven All-Party delegations that followed Operation Sindoor, remarking on how these initiatives showcase India’s “political pluralism” and deliver a powerful “unified message.”
Speaking at a press conference on July 2, 2025, at the Willard Intercontinental in Washington, D.C., Jaishankar responded to a query from the South Asian Herald, highlighting the unity demonstrated by diverse political figures coming together on key issues. He noted, “When you have a set of people with a track record, with that diversity—you actually saw the political pluralism of India come together on an important issue and send a strong unified message.”
Joined by the Indian Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Kwatra, and Additional Secretary (Americas) Nagaraj Naidu, Jaishankar expressed personal admiration for the initiative, stating it demonstrated India’s national interest positively. “We very much value and appreciate what they did,” he said, emphasizing the importance of a wide-ranging delegation speaking with one voice on international platforms to convey national unity.
The project, comprising leaders across the political spectrum such as Shashi Tharoor, Supriya Sule, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, and several others alongside ruling party members like Ravi Shankar Prasad, and Jai Panda, reflected the initiative’s diverse nature. It also included those with foreign affairs experience, including Salman Khurshid and Anand Sharma.
In response to another inquiry regarding the progress of the Quad, Jaishankar described it as a “unique organization” without a formal legal framework but united by “commonality of purpose” and “convergence of interest.”
“There’s a universe of things remaining to be done,” he explained, discussing the evolving agenda shaped by changing global needs, with issues like undersea cables and critical minerals moving to the forefront of discussions.
Jaishankar shared insights from the recent Foreign Ministers’ meeting on July 1, noting it was more extensive compared to earlier meetings. During discussions, the Quad members agreed to strengthen strategic stability in the Indo-Pacific and delved into regional issues, notably those involving Israel, Iran, and U.S. regional engagement.
Specific initiatives announced include the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative, focusing on mineral recovery, an Indo-Pacific Logistics Network, the Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission for enhanced Coast Guard cooperation, and a Maritime Legal Dialogue to be hosted online by India.
Additional efforts include an Expanded Indo-Pacific partnership on maritime domain awareness, a Maritime Initiative for Training in the Indo-Pacific workshop, a Ports of the Future Partnership conference, and a conference on undersea cables under the Quad Partnership on Cable Connectivity and Resilience.
Jaishankar emphasized the Quad’s focus on four key thematic areas: Maritime and Transnational Security; Economic Prosperity and Security; Critical and Emerging Technologies; and Humanitarian Assistance and Emergency Response.
Further illustrating the depth of India’s diplomatic engagements, he recounted bilateral discussions with Secretary of State Marco Rubio on wide-ranging issues such as trade, technology, defense, and energy. Additional meetings with Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Japan’s Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Energy Secretary Chris Wright further underscored strong bilateral ties.
Responding to a question on the U.S.-India relationship’s foundation, Jaishankar underscored the partnership’s centrality by acknowledging India’s position as a leading global economy and its collaborative efforts in sectors like trade and technology.
He affirmed the Quad’s respect for ASEAN’s central role in regional matters, noting the group’s considerable focus on ASEAN. As the sole Global South nation in the Quad, India voices developing countries’ priorities and perspectives during discussions, which also include development projects in the Global South.
Looking ahead, India is preparing to host the next Quad Summit later this year and has shared preliminary proposals with other member countries, according to Jaishankar.
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