Washington: The joint statement released after the first Quad foreign ministers' meeting since the inauguration of the Trump administration notably excluded a commitment that had been a regular fixture in past discussions: the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. This omission has raised eyebrows given the longstanding inclusion of this objective in previous statements.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the top diplomats from the United States, India, Japan, and Australia convened in Washington on Tuesday, marking their first meeting since President Donald Trump assumed office as the 47th president of the United States on Monday. The statement, which was relatively succinct at just two paragraphs, emphasized the strengthening of a "free and open" Indo-Pacific and expressed strong opposition to "any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion." However, it notably refrained from naming China or North Korea directly.
This omission is particularly significant in light of recent remarks by Trump and his Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth, who have characterized North Korea as a "nuclear power." These statements have sparked concern in South Korea, a key U.S. ally, which is keen on maintaining close policy coordination to achieve the vital goal of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula.
Historically, Quad meetings have consistently included a reaffirmation of their commitment to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. In their July statement, Quad officials underscored their dedication to the complete denuclearization of the peninsula, aligning with relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions, and urged North Korea to comply with its obligations under those resolutions and engage in "substantive" dialogue. Similar commitments were reiterated in the joint statements of 2023 and 2022, as well as in recent years' Quad leaders' joint statements.