Foreign ministers of the Quad group, consisting of Australia, India, Japan and the United States, held a meeting in New Delhi to discuss regional issues of mutual interest, including the situation in Myanmar.
The group expressed deep concern about the deteriorating situation in Myanmar and called for an end to the ongoing violence.
The Quad foreign ministers emphasized the need for a complete cessation of violence, release of those arbitrarily detained, resolutions of issues through dialogue, unhindered humanitarian access, and transition to an inclusive, federal democratic system in Myanmar.
The group also said it supports the efforts of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to end the conflict and violence in Myanmar, calling for the full implementation of ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus.
“We strongly emphasize the importance of maintaining peace, stability, and prosperity and express our deep concern at the deteriorating situation in Myanmar,” their joint statement said.
The meeting was attended by Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi.
In addition to discussing the Myanmar crisis, the Quad group also condemned North Korea’s recent ballistic missile launches, including the launch of an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) on 18 February. The Quad group called for North Korea to immediately cease all provocative actions and to engage in meaningful dialogue to achieve complete denuclearization.
