Japan Confirms Quad Cooperation with Australia and India Ahead of 'Trump 2nd Term'

Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya met with Australian and Indian foreign ministers on the 19th (local time) ahead of the inauguration of the Donald Trump administration in the United States to reaffirm the importance of Quad (the security consultative framework among the US, Australia, India, and Japan) cooperation aimed at countering China.

AFP Yonhap News

According to Kyodo News, Foreign Minister Iwaya emphasized that Quad cooperation plays a crucial role in the security of the Indo-Pacific region.

Meeting with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Foreign Minister Iwaya stressed the importance of cooperation among Quad countries, saying, "Japan and Australia must take a leading role to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific and closely cooperate with other partners."

Foreign Minister Iwaya also met with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and similarly confirmed the importance of cooperation among the four Quad countries. He stated, "Japan and India share fundamental values and bear great responsibility for peace and prosperity in the international community."

Additionally, with an early visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Japan in mind, they exchanged views on cooperation across a wide range of fields including security and economy. Marking the ‘Year of India-Japan Science and Technology Exchange’ starting from April this year for one year, they agreed to further advance cooperation in the field of science and technology.

Foreign Minister Iwaya is coordinating the US-Japan foreign ministerial meeting and the Quad four-nation foreign ministers’ meeting scheduled for the 22nd in Washington, following the inauguration of Marco Rubio, currently a senator, as Secretary of State after Trump’s inauguration.

President-elect Trump will be inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States at noon on the 20th. Foreign Minister Iwaya, Foreign Minister Wong, and Foreign Minister Jaishankar are expected to attend the inauguration ceremony.