New Delhi: Foreign secretary Vikram Misri said on Tuesday (August 26) that the Quad is an “important platform” for Indo-Pacific stability, a view also voiced jointly by India and the US in bilateral talks this week, even as Washington readies massive tariffs on Indian exports over Russian oil.

The comments also came as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also set to travel to Japan and China later this week – one a fellow Quad member and the other a critic of the grouping.

Ahead of the visit, India braces for a 50% US tariff on its exports from August 27, despite both sides describing each other as strategic partners.

At a special briefing on Modi’s visit, Misri said: “You're aware that the Quad is indeed an important platform for working on and promoting peace, stability, prosperity and development in the Indo-Pacific region.”

He added that the grouping of India, the US, Japan and Australia had broadened its scope in recent years to include health security, critical and emerging technologies, critical minerals, resilient supply chains and infrastructure development.

“Both our countries attach high value to this forum and to this partnership. And we look forward to working with all Quad partners to take our cooperation forward,” he said, noting that the Quad was likely to feature in Modi’s discussions with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.

Misri’s emphasis echoed the outcome of the India-US 2 2 intersessional dialogue held virtually on Monday.

In statements released simultaneously in Washington and New Delhi, both governments said that the officials “reaffirmed their commitment to promoting a safer, stronger, and more prosperous Indo-Pacific region through the Quad”.

India is scheduled to host a summit of leaders of Quad countries later this year. During his February visit to Washington, Modi had told US President Donald Trump that he looked forward to welcoming him in Delhi for the meeting.

But when asked directly about the summit at an event last weekend, external affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stopped short of giving a clear confirmation.

The Quad, revived in 2017, has grown into a key forum for regional coordination amid concerns over China’s influence in Asia.

At the same time, US-India ties are being tested, with Washington moving to penalise New Delhi over its energy imports from Russia, which could have a devastating impact on labour-intensive sectors in India like textiles and gems and jewellery.

The Indian and US readouts also stated that both sides looked forward to signing the new ten-year framework for the ‘Major Defence Partnership’, while stating that they wanted to continue “enhancing the breadth and depth of the bilateral relationship in a manner that benefits the people of India and the United States”.

They also alluded to progress made “under the auspices of the US-India COMPACT (Catalysing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce & Technology) for the 21st Century and beyond”.

The visit to China, the first by Modi in seven years, is primarily to attend the 25th meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation on August 31. But it is more eagerly anticipated for a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines.

India and China started normalising their relations in October 2024, a month before the US presidential election that brought Trump back to the White House for a second term.

The looming tariffs have opened space for Beijing to strengthen economic engagement with New Delhi. Last week, Chinese ambassador Xu Feihong said that China “stands” with India against the US measures.

The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.