India’s Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar has praised the global advocacy efforts of the seven All-Party delegations post Operation Sindoor, emphasizing that the initiative showcases India’s “political pluralism” and delivers a powerful “unified message.”

Responding to a question from South Asian Herald during a press conference on July 2, 2025, at the Willard Intercontinental in Washington D.C., Jaishankar said, “If you look at the entirety of that initiative, I think when you have a set of people with a track record, with that diversity – you actually saw the political pluralism of India come together on an important issue and send a strong unified message.”

Minister Jaishankar was joined by the Indian Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Kwatra, and Additional Secretary (Americas) Nagaraj Naidu at the press conference, which was hosted by the Embassy of India.

The Minister noted that beyond his official capacity, “Honestly, as a person, as an Indian citizen,” he genuinely applauds the initiative.

“We very much value and appreciate what they did. When I look at the engagements they had, the conversations, the impact that they have –  it’s very good for a country. It really serves our national interest. When you have a broad-based set of people who speak with one voice abroad, it conveys a strong message of national unity,” he said.

He stressed the importance of the diverse nature of the initiative that included leaders from across the political spectrum, such as Shashi Tharoor, Supriya Sule, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, Sanjay Jha, and Shrikant Shinde, as well as members of the ruling party including Ravi Shankar Prasad, and Jai Panda. The delegation also included individuals with experience in foreign affairs, such as Salman Khurshid, Anand Sharma, and former ambassadors.

Addressing another question from South Asian Herald on the progress of the Quad, Jaishankar described it as a “unique organization” without a formal legal framework, yet driven by a “commonality of purpose” and a “convergence of interest.”

“There’s a universe of things remaining to be done,” he said, reflecting on the group’s evolving agenda. He emphasized how changing global needs shape Quad priorities, noting that issues like undersea cables and critical minerals, which were once peripheral, are now central to the conversation.

“Sometimes old ones which were not addressed will also be looked at,” he added, explaining how member nations contribute suggestions that are used to build the Quad’s agenda collaboratively. “That’s the way we’ve actually built up the Quad, and I’m sure that’s the way it will continue.”

He described the most recent Foreign Ministers’ meeting on July 1 as “much longer and a much more detailed one” than the meeting held in January, which was the first day in office for Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Jaishankar said the ministers “all agreed strongly that our goal in the Quad was to strengthen strategic stability in the Indo-Pacific.” The discussions focused on enhancing delivery on ongoing initiatives and included candid exchanges on regional issues, including developments involving Israel, Iran, and U.S. engagement in the region. A business roundtable on critical minerals, involving companies from all four Quad countries, was held in parallel with the Foreign Ministers’ meeting.

Among the initiatives announced by the Quad Ministers were: The Quad Critical Minerals Initiative, focusing on mineral recovery relevant to all members; The Indo-Pacific Logistics Network, preparing for a field training exercise; The Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission, enhancing Coast Guard cooperation across Palau and Guam; A Maritime Legal Dialogue, to be hosted virtually from India later this month; Expanded Indo-Pacific partnership on maritime domain awareness, through India’s Gurugram Fusion Center, the Maritime Initiative for Training in the Indo-Pacific workshop, designed to assess capability gaps and build capacity;  A Ports of the Future Partnership conference, aimed at resilient ports and shipbuilding; and A conference on undersea cables, under the Quad Partnership on Cable Connectivity and Resilience

“The Quad members are all fundamentally maritime nations. A lot of what brings us together in the Indo-Pacific is the maritime facet of our capabilities,” he said, underlining the “very clear affirmation of the deepening commitment of all members to the Quad.”

Jaishankar said the Quad has now streamlined its focus into four thematic areas: Maritime and Transnational Security; Economic Prosperity and Security; Critical and Emerging Technologies; and Humanitarian Assistance and Emergency Response.

In addition to the Quad ministerial, Jaishankar also held bilateral discussions with Secretary Rubio on issues such as trade and investment, technology, defense, energy, and mobility. He also held bilateral meetings with Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and Japan’s Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi on July 1. He separately met with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Energy Secretary Chris Wright as well. 

To a question about the foundation of the U.S.-India relationship, Jaishankar clarified that the “central factor” in the partnership is “India and the United States.”

“We are a big country. We are among the top five economies of the world. We are the most populous country in the world. Our influence is growing…” he said, pointing to collaboration on key areas such as trade, technology, mobility, and defense.

He also noted that the Quad spent considerable time discussing ASEAN and reiterated the Quad’s respect for ASEAN’s centrality and strategic role. As the only Global South country within the Quad, India consistently conveys the perspectives and priorities of developing nations. Development projects in the Global South were part of the discussions.

India is set to host the next Quad Summit later this year and has already shared a few proposals with member countries in preparations, he added. 

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