MELBOURNE, 9 February 2022: Australia is hosting the Quad foreign Ministers meeting here on February 10 and 11. The Quad consisting of the US, Australia, India and Japan will have their foreign ministers here to press ahead on Indo-Pacific issues, including to further counter China amid the recent warming up of ties between Russia and China.
The pro-Beijing Global Times says, ” Analysts said that the US-led alliances like the AUKUS and Quad, both including Australia, are exactly what the China-Russia joint statement said about “external forces to undermine security and stability in their common adjacent regions.” AUKUS and Quad also bring concerns to other countries in the region by allowing nuclear proliferation and increasing tensions to boost arm races, and such harmful moves will eventually isolate the US, Australia and their allies who want to follow them.”
The Quad foreign ministers will meet Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
Australia’s High Commissioner to New Delhi, Barry O’Farrell told the Hindustan Times, “I think last year’s meeting in Washington of the [Quad] leaders is the best sign yet that this is a permanent body that’s focused on action, not talk. And it’s focused on action directed at some of the most consequential problems we’re facing, whether it’s health, climate change, and the cyber and other security challenges that we face.”
Asked about Australia’s priorities for the relationship with India during 2022, O’Farrell said these included further growth of the Quad, the realization of an “interim agreement, but hopefully the final agreement for a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement”, and continued cooperation in critical areas such as cyber-security and cyber technology.
The Indian Foreign Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar attending the Quad meeting will be in Australia from 10-13 February 2022. This will be his first visit as External Affairs Minister to Australia.
The Minister will attend the Quad meeting, with the other three foreign ministers and addresses contemporary challenges such as COVID pandemic, supply chains, critical technologies, climate change, infrastructure, etc.
He will address a select gathering at the Australia India Institute on Friday 11 Feb. 2022, on ‘Australia India Partnership In The Indo-Pacific” at the Old Quad, University of Melbourne.
A reception for the visiting dignitaries is likely to be held by DFAT.
The story will be updated.
