Hiroshima: Quad leaders on Saturday mourned the “terrible and tragic” humanitarian consequences of the war in Ukraine and called for an end to the war through dialogue and diplomacy, while asserting that this should not be an “era of war”. Should, a formulation that resonates with the Prime Minister. Minister Narendra Modi’s position on conflict. Modi, US President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese, leaders of the four Quad nations discussed the situation in Ukraine as well as other pressing global challenges at the group’s annual summit in Hiroshima.
The joint statement of the four leaders issued at the end of the summit reflected a stronger collective position of the Quad on the Ukraine conflict than the one issued after the group’s Tokyo summit in March last year. The leaders highlighted the importance of international law, peaceful resolution of disputes and respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter, including the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all states and, in that context, expressed “deep concern” at the raging war in Ukraine and expressed its “mourning”. Terrible and tragic human consequences”.
“We recognize its serious implications for the global economic system, including food, fuel and energy security and critical supply chains,” the statement said. The leaders resolved to continue providing humanitarian assistance to Ukraine for its restoration. “Recognizing that our age must not be one of war, we are committed to dialogue and diplomacy. We support a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in line with the United Nations Charter. In this context, we agree that the use, or the threat of use, the matter of nuclear weapons is serious and unacceptable,” he said.
In a bilateral meeting with Russian President Putin in the Uzbek city of Samarkand on September 16 last year, Modi said “today is not the era of war” and asked the Russian leader to end the conflict. This formulation was welcomed by many European leaders and was subsequently mentioned in several diplomatic documents.
Saturday’s joint statement reflects the evolution of India’s position on the conflict. In his address to the summit, Modi described the Indo-Pacific region as the “engine” of global trade, innovation and growth, and said its success and security are vital to the entire world. The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of strengthening the Quad’s constructive agenda and delivering concrete results for the region. Modi invited the Quad leaders to India for the next summit of the grouping in 2024.
In the joint statement, the Quad leaders reaffirmed their firm commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific while strongly opposing “destabilizing or unilateral actions” that seek to change the status quo through force or coercion. While the leaders did not directly name China, it was clear that the reference was directed to Beijing, which has been increasing its military might in the strategically important Indo-Pacific.
The Quad leaders also adopted a ‘Vision Statement’ titled ‘Enduring Partners for the Indo-Pacific’ expressing their resolve to act as a “force for good” to find common solutions for region-wide benefits. Unveiled. At the summit, the Quad leaders unveiled a number of initiatives, including clean energy supply chains, undersea cables and investments in strategic technologies.
In the maritime domain, the Quad leaders emphasized the importance of abiding by international law and the maintenance of freedom of navigation and overflight in addressing challenges to the maritime rules-based order, including in the East and South China Seas. “We express grave concern over the militarization of disputed facilities, the dangerous use of Coast Guard and Marine militia vessels, and attempts to disrupt offshore resource exploitation activities of other countries,” the statement said in an oblique reference to Chinese activities.
The Quad leaders emphasized that disputes should be resolved peacefully and in accordance with international law, without the threat or use of force.
The Quad also categorically condemned terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms, including cross-border terrorism. It added that the coalition will work with its regional partners in a comprehensive and sustained manner to strengthen the ability to prevent, detect and respond to threats posed by terrorism and violent extremism in line with international law.
“We commit to working together to promote accountability for the perpetrators of such terrorist attacks. We reiterate our condemnation of the terrorist attacks, including the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai and Pathankot, and as appropriate reiterate our commitment to pursue the designations of the United Nations Security Council 1267 Sanctions Committee,” the statement said.
We will strengthen our cooperation through the new Counterterrorism Working Group announced during the Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting in March 2023. The leaders also announced the development of the Quad Vaccine Partnership into a broader Quad Health Security Partnership. Through this partnership, the Quad will strengthen coordination and cooperation in support of health security in the Indo-Pacific.
He said the Quad Principles were issued by the Quad International Standards Cooperation Network and the Quad Principles on Critical and Emerging Technology Standards reflect “our support for an industry-led, consensus-based multi-stakeholder approach to technology standards development”. “We welcome the launch of the private sector-led Quad Investors Network (QUIN), which aims to facilitate investment in strategic technologies, including clean energy, semiconductors, critical minerals and quant,” the statement said.
The leaders also resolved to expand cooperation in the Indian Ocean region. “It supports our regional partners in combating a wide range of illegal maritime activities, including illegal, unrestricted and unregulated fishing, and responding to climate-related and anthropogenic events,” he said. “We are committed to deepening engagement with regional partners to support maritime safety and security and to uphold international law,” he added. In the Vision Statement on the Indo-Pacific, the leaders resolved to work towards a peaceful and prosperous, stable and secure region.
The vision statement states, “We seek a region in which all countries and peoples can exercise free choice about cooperation and trade, based on partnership, equality and mutual respect.” “We share the belief that engaging openly, transparently and constructively creates greater opportunities, greater economic vitality and a better understanding of shared challenges for the benefit of all.”
It added, “At a time of fundamental change, challenge and opportunity in our region, we are determined to make a positive and lasting contribution to the resilience and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific by leveraging our resources and sharing our expertise.” The Quad leaders also resolved to ensure that the principles that inspired decades of peace and stability and development remain in force for decades to come, including the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.