Jaishankar to Attend ASEAN, Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meetings in Manila
New Delhi–External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will visit the Philippines on July 22 and 23 to participate in ASEAN-related discussions and a meeting of Quad foreign ministers, India’s Ministry of External Affairs said.
Jaishankar is scheduled to attend several foreign minister-level meetings in Manila under the ASEAN framework, including the ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting, the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the ASEAN Regional Forum.
The ministry said the visit reflects India’s expanding engagement with ASEAN under its Act East Policy and its commitment to strengthening the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
“The visit underscores India’s deepening engagement with ASEAN under the Act East Policy and reaffirms our strong commitment to further strengthening the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. It is of particular significance that 2026 has been designated as the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation,” the ministry said.
On the sidelines of the ASEAN meetings, Jaishankar will join his counterparts from Australia, Japan and the United States for a Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. He is also expected to hold bilateral discussions with officials from other participating countries.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in the Philippines earlier Tuesday to attend the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference, the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the ASEAN Regional Forum Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.
Rubio is also scheduled to meet senior Indo-Pacific government officials and participate in the Quad meeting.
“The Secretary’s visit advances a clear U.S. priority: a free and open Indo-Pacific that delivers safety, security, and prosperity for the region and for the American people,” the State Department said.
The department added that Rubio would highlight the results of the U.S.-ASEAN partnership and seek to deepen Washington’s comprehensive partnership with the Philippines.
The previous Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was held in New Delhi on May 26, when the four countries launched the Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Collaboration initiative.
The initiative is intended to strengthen maritime information sharing and domain awareness across the Indo-Pacific, initially focusing on the Indian Ocean region through surveillance cooperation, expert exchanges and tabletop exercises. (Source: IANS)
