Quad continues to remain a grouping of four members: MEA on expansion

The Quad grouping currently consists of four member countries and has no plans for expansion, India's Ministry of External Affairs stated Tuesday. The platform, however, remains open to collaborating with other nations on specific areas of cooperation.

“

As of now, the Quad continues to remain a grouping of four members, but we are delivering for all of the Indo-Pacific.

Nagaraj Naidu, an Additional Secretary at the MEA, clarified the grouping's status during a briefing following the Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi. "As of now, the Quad continues to remain a grouping of four members, but we are delivering for all of the Indo-Pacific," he said.

Naidu emphasized that the Quad is a "flexible and nimble mechanism" without a formal institutional structure, which allows for adaptability. "All I would like to assure is that the Quad is a very nimble organisation. We don't have a formal secretariat, but that gives us the flexibility to do a lot of things," he added.

“

I don't think the Quad is averse to working with other partners.

The Quad comprises Australia, India, Japan, and the United States. The recent Foreign Ministers' Meeting adopted joint statements on energy security and a critical minerals initiative, underscoring the group's focus on practical cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.

“

All I would like to assure is that the Quad is a very nimble organisation. We don't have a formal secretariat, but that gives us the flexibility to do a lot of things.