Four foreign ministers are meeting today, the Indo-Pacific region on the agenda
India is hosting four foreign ministers in New Delhi today, March 3. Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar will chair Friday’s meeting, while Australia’s Foreign Minister, Japan’s Foreign Minister and Secretary of State of the United States of America will participate.
It is an opportunity for ministers to continue their discussions at their last meeting in New York in September 2022. Foreign ministers will exchange views on recent developments in the Indo-Pacific region and regional issues of mutual interest, guided by through their vision of a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific, according to the ANI news agency.
During the meeting, they will also discuss the progress the Quad has made in pursuing its constructive agenda and implementing initiatives to address the region’s contemporary priorities.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar will participate in the Quad Summit.
Earlier in February, the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or Quad comprising India, the United States, Japan and Australia, launched a public campaign “Quad Cyber Challenge” to improve cybersecurity in their countries. It invited internet users in the Indo-Pacific and beyond to be part of the challenge and practice “safe and responsible cyber habits”.
The “Quad Cyber Challenge” demonstrates Quad countries’ continued efforts to strengthen cybersecurity awareness and action and foster a safer and more resilient cyber ecosystem to the benefit of economies and users, ANI reported.
In an official statement, the National Security Council Secretariat said internet users in the Indo-Pacific and beyond are invited to join the challenge and pledge to practice safe and responsible cyber habits.
“The Challenge reflects Quad’s ongoing efforts to strengthen cybersecurity awareness and action among individuals and communities, and to foster a safer and more resilient cyber ecosystem that can benefit economies and users everywhere,” it said. further.
Following the Quad Senior Cyber Group meeting in New Delhi on January 30-31, the group said it was in the process of identifying best security practices for software services and products and minimum cybersecurity requirements for critical infrastructure.
The Group also endorsed the efforts of the Counter Ransomware Initiative (CRI) (of which Quad countries are members) to promote international cooperation and concerted action to tackle ransomware, including through information and intelligence exchanges, sharing best practices with regarding policy and legal frameworks, and cooperation between law enforcement and cyber authorities to counter ransomware activity, it added.
(with ANI inputs)