Foreign Minister Quad Desak Solusi Diplomatik Atasi Krisis Selat Hormuz, Tolak Pungutan

JAKARTA - The foreign ministers of the US, India, Japan, and Australia on Tuesday (26/5) emphasized the importance of maritime security, calling for a diplomatic solution to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and rejecting the cost of transit that affects maritime trade.

The call was made after a meeting of the Quad Security Dialogue (Quad) in New Delhi amid the ongoing US-Iran conflict.

Indian Foreign Minister (Menlu) S. Jaishankar hosted US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi.

According to Jaishankar, the talks were "substantial and productive." The foreign ministers assessed that the Indo-Pacific region would be increasingly important for the world in the coming years.

"The responsibility of the Quad will grow as these developments progress and we must prepare ourselves," he said at a joint press conference reported by ANTARA from Anadolu, Tuesday, May 26.

Jaishankar said the four countries agreed that economic resilience needed to be improved, supply chains needed to be strengthened, safe and reliable technology needed to be expanded, and production capacity needed to be increased.

"We also discussed safe and unimpeded maritime trade and stressed the importance of adhering to international law," he said.

Meanwhile, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the Quad was aware of its responsibility to provide real options amid the worsening strategic situation in the region.

"We recognize the importance of maintaining the principle of freedom of navigation and rejecting all forms of transit tolls," he said.

According to Wong, global economic volatility is increasing and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has a major impact on the region.

He also appreciated the diplomatic efforts of the US Secretary of State to restore freedom of navigation and the smooth supply of vital energy.

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said ministers discussed the impact of Iran-related tensions on Indo-Pacific energy security.

"We stress the importance of diplomatic efforts to ensure free and safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and the importance of stability in the Middle East," he said.

He added that Quad supports strengthening the supply chain of critical minerals and energy cooperation to strengthen the resilience and stability of the Indo-Pacific and Middle East regions.