The recent Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Washington D.C. on July 1, 2025, was clear, focused, and successful. Unlike the SCO meeting in China, which ended with disagreements and no joint statement, this Quad summit delivered solid results and showed strong unity among the four democracies—India, the U.S., Australia, and Japan.The joint statement was tough where it needed to be and avoided unnecessary drama. The ministers talked about keeping the Indo-Pacific region free, open, and peaceful. They opposed any country using force or pressure to change things, clearly hinting at China’s actions in the South China Sea without naming it. The message was simple: don’t mess with the rules.
India’s Big Win: Pahalgam Attack Mentioned
One of the key highlights was India’s diplomatic win getting the Pahalgam terror attack mentioned in the joint statement. The ministers strongly condemned the April 22, 2025 attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 25 Indians and a Nepali citizen.Where in Qingdao SCO submit was seen as failure ,no official statement on pahalgam attack .Not many international statements openly talk about terror attacks in Kashmir, so this was a big move. It showed the world that terrorism in South Asia isn’t being ignored anymore.
Australia Faced No Heat on Defence Spending
Many were expecting Australia to be questioned about its defence budget, especially with AUKUS projects underway. But that didn’t happen. Instead, Australia was praised for its work in maritime security and logistics. They even got the responsibility to host the next Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in 2026, which shows trust from the group.
Focus Areas: Clear and Practical
The meeting wasn’t just about talk. The Quad announced a new action plan focused on four key areas:
- Maritime and Transnational Security
- Economic Prosperity and Secure Supply Chains
- Critical and Emerging Technologies
- Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response
They launched the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative to reduce dependency on one country (clearly China) for things like rare earth minerals. They also promised a Ports of the Future project in Mumbai, more maritime law enforcement training, and a logistics training exercise to help respond faster to disasters in the region.
China’s Actions Called Out (Without Naming)
Even though China wasn’t directly named, the joint statement sent a strong message. It raised serious concern over the situation in the South and East China Seas, mentioning things like:
- Use of water cannons
- Blocking ships
- Ramming
- Harassment of other countries’ vessels
They also reminded the world about the 2016 South China Sea tribunal ruling, which China has ignored. The Quad said clearly: disputes must be resolved peacefully, under international law.
Warnings to North Korea
North Korea was directly called out for:
- Launching ballistic missiles
- Running cybercrime operations
- Funding its weapons programs using stolen crypto and forced labor abroad
The Quad wants complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula and urged all UN members to fully implement sanctions.
Crisis in Myanmar and Cybercrime
The Quad also talked about the ongoing Myanmar crisis, urging a ceasefire and more humanitarian support. The group also noted the rising threat of cybercrime and online scams, promising to fight these together.
Not Just Talk Actual Action
The joint statement wasn’t vague. It included real figures the $30 million in disaster aid to Myanmar after the recent earthquake—and solid plans for the future. That’s what made this meeting different from many other global talks.In contrast, the SCO summit in China failed badly, with no joint message and visible tensions. That clearly showed which platform is delivering results and which isn’t.
What’s Next?
India will host the next Quad Leaders’ Summit later this year, and that will be a big chance to keep up the momentum. As global tensions rise in the Indo-Pacific, this Quad meeting proved the group isn’t slowing down. It’s evolving, delivering results, and building something long-term.
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