India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar participated in the Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Washington D.C. on Tuesday, marking a significant moment just a day after the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 47th President of the United States.

Jaishankar expressed the importance of the meeting, noting that it highlighted the priority the Quad nations place on their foreign policy. In a tweet following the meeting, Jaishankar thanked US Secretary of State Marco Rubio for hosting the event and acknowledged the participation of Australia’s Penny Wong and Japan’s Takeshi Iwaya.

He emphasized that the timing of the meeting underscored the importance of the Quad in the foreign policies of its member countries.

“We agreed on the need to think bigger, deepen our agenda, and intensify collaboration,” Jaishankar wrote. “This meeting sends a clear message that in an uncertain and volatile world, the Quad will continue to be a force for global good.”

The Quad, which includes India, the United States, Australia, and Japan, is a strategic coalition formed to promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. It also focuses on countering China's military aggression, particularly in the South China Sea, where Beijing claims extensive territorial rights.

Jaishankar also highlighted the Quad’s collective commitment to ensuring a free, open, and stable Indo-Pacific, with an emphasis on maintaining international law, economic opportunity, and security in all domains, including maritime. The group’s foreign ministers reaffirmed their opposition to any unilateral actions that seek to change the region’s status quo through force or coercion.

During his visit, Jaishankar held his first bilateral meeting with Secretary of State Rubio since he took office. The two leaders discussed a range of topics, including regional security, emerging technologies, and strengthening defense and energy cooperation between India and the United States.

In a tweet, Jaishankar expressed his delight at meeting Rubio, noting that both leaders reviewed their “extensive bilateral partnership.” He also said they exchanged views on several key global and regional issues and looked forward to working closely to further the strategic cooperation between their countries.

The Quad meeting marked a major moment of diplomacy for the Trump administration, with the leaders reaffirming their commitment to deepening ties and addressing mutual challenges, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region. Despite the highly anticipated meeting, no questions were taken from the press following the session, although a photo session took place at the State Department.

In a statement from the US State Department, spokesperson Tammy Bruce said that both leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening the US-India partnership. The meeting also touched upon critical issues, including advancing economic ties, addressing irregular migration, and working together to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific.