Latest news with #MignonHouston
India Gazette
7 hours ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Quad Partners focused right to territorial integrity, sovereignty
Washington, DC [USA], July 3 (ANI): The Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting (QFIM) held in Washington placed strong emphasis on the importance of territorial integrity, sovereignty, and respect for international law, according to a United States State Department official. The four-nation group, comprising India, the United States, Australia, and Japan, also reaffirmed their joint commitment to a free, open and peaceful Indo-Pacific region, and expressed serious concern about terrorism and ongoing regional challenges. US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Mignon Houston told ANI that the Quad members had a clear and shared focus during the meeting on core principles that ensure peace and cooperation in the region. '... I would point to the joint statement that was released by the Quad Partners, where they focused on the right to territorial integrity and sovereignty and their commitment to the rule of law. These Quad partners make up 35 per cent of the world's GDP. They have an incredible impact and influence on the world. Leveraging their resources, expertise and skills to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific was the priority for this meeting... We look forward to seeing these policies carried forward through the Quad Partners,' Houston said. She said the United States, under President Donald Trump's leadership, remains focused on peace in the Indo-Pacific. 'Territorial integrity, respect for the rule of law, and sovereignty were all pieces that were part of this meeting. That includes security, as India has suggested. We will continue to focus on that. This administration have been very clear that they are focused on peace. The US President is focused on peace. This is part we're going to continue to work for the Indo-Pacific as well,' she added. During the meeting, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar raised the issue of terrorism and referred to India's recent military action, Operation Sindoor, which was launched in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. 'A word about terrorism in light of our recent experience. The world must display zero tolerance. Victims and perpetrators must never be equated and India has every right to defend its people against terrorism and we will exercise that right. We expect our Quad partners to understand and appreciate that,' Jaishankar said. He also underlined India's continued commitment to the strategic aims of the Quad. 'I am very pleased to be back in DC for the second time this year for Quad's Foreign Ministers' Meeting, and let me begin by saying we are all committed to ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific. To that end, our endeavours are devoted to promoting a rules-based international order. The nations of the Indo-Pacific must have the freedom of choice so essential to make the right decisions on development and security,' he said. In their joint statement, the Quad ministers strongly condemned terrorism in all forms and called for action against the perpetrators of the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen. 'The Quad unequivocally condemns all acts of terrorism and violent extremism in all their forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism, and renews our commitment to counterterrorism cooperation. We condemn in the strongest terms the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, 2025, which claimed the lives of 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen while injuring several others. We express our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and extend our heartfelt wishes for a swift and full recovery to all those injured,' the statement said. Speaking about Operation Sindoor, Jaishankar reiterated that India would not hesitate to act against terrorism and those who enable it. 'The perpetrators of terrorism must be held accountable; they must be brought to justice and that's important because we have to communicate to the world that what we did on May 7, the objective of Operation Sindoor, is that if there are terrorist attacks, we will act against the perpetrators, the supporters, and the enablers. That message was conveyed with great clarity,' Jaishankar added. (ANI)
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Business Standard
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Quad countries are major maritime partners, says US State dept official
US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Mignon Houston while speaking about the situation in the East China Sea and the South China Sea said that the Quad members are major maritime partners. Houston said that these countries understand the maritime issues that these countries face. She said, "We heard from the four Quad partners in the joint statement that there are serious concerns about the situation in the East China Sea and the South China Sea... These four partners have focused on the fact that we want to see respect for the rule of the sea and freedom of navigation... The Quad countries are major maritime partners. They understand the vulnerabilities when freedom of navigation is not respected, which encompass illegal fishing, piracy, and activities related to transnational criminal organisations and the trafficking of drugs." She added, "These are scores that are hurting the United States and our Quad partners and those in the Indo-Pacific. We're focused on ensuring that there is no coercion or force in this area, and that we see full respect in this area for the rule of the sea... It was listed twice in the joint statement, the unity, the commitment from the Quad partners to focus on maritime security." The Quad countries have launched a Critical Minerals Initiative, which will focus particularly on mineral recovery, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Wednesday. Foreign Ministers of the Quad countries also discussed regional issues in the Indo-Pacific and the Israel-Iran conflict. Addressing a press conference here, Jaishankar said the discussions were largely devoted to enhancing delivery on various initiatives and projects. "We launched the Quad Critical Minerals initiative and this would be focused particularly on the mineral recovery, which is very important for all of us. Second, there is the Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network that was launched earlier in the year and we decided it will hold its field training exercise very there is the Quad at Sea Ship Observer mission. This involves our coast there is a maritime legal dialogue at the expert level which will be held virtually later this month," Jaishankar said. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Time of India
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
‘Not to vandalise campuses': US clarifies student visa rules, ties approval to national security
US State Dept spokesperson Mignon Houston clarified the US student visa process, urging applicants to follow visa guidelines strictly. She emphasised that student visas are meant solely for studying, not for campus disruptions or vandalism. Every visa decision, she said, is tied to US national security and upholds immigration law standards to protect both American citizens and international students pursuing education in the US. Show more Show less
Hindustan Times
21 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
US opens student visa applications, urges applicants to follow rules
US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Mignon Houston on Wednesday (local time) stated that student visa applications for the United States are now open and encouraged students to apply, while underlining that all visa decisions are taken keeping US national security in mind. Student visa applications for the United States are now open, with authorities encouraging eligible students to apply promptly.(Representational Image) Speaking to ANI, Houston said, "Our student visa applications have opened, students can apply and submit their application but what we want students to understand when they're applying for that visa, we want them to understand that we want to see a use of that visa that is in line with their application and the students come to the United States and study and not obstruct students from studying in class, not to vandalize campuses." She added, "Every decision we make is a US national security decision. We have these policies with the US immigration law to ensure that we are holding the highest standard for US immigration... not only to protect US citizens but also the other students studying here..." US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Mignon Houston also told ANI that India is an "essential partner" for Washington in the Indo-Pacific region, as talks continue for a bilateral trade agreement between the two nations. Speaking to ANI, Houston underlined the United States' aim of establishing a "fair and reciprocal" trade relationship with its partners, in line with the Trump administration's "America First" agenda. "We want trade that is fair and reciprocal. Working closely, India is an essential partner in the Indo-Pacific and the Quad. We expect that all our partners understand why this is so important to the 'America First' agenda, that we look for trade policies that have a fairness, reciprocal, balanced way to ensure that all parties benefit," Houston told ANI. She defended the Trump administration's decision to impose tariffs, saying unfair trade practices had harmed American farmers and industries. "I can say writ large as it relates to the United States' position that these tariffs are a way for countries to meet us at a place of fairness. The United States has an open economy, but there are unfair trade policies that have impacted US farmers and industries," she said. Talks between India and the US on a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) are underway, with a July 9 deadline fast approaching. The deadline marks the end of a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariff hikes. On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump said that a trade deal between India and the United States was likely soon and promised reduced tariffs."I think we are going to have a deal with India. And that is going to be a different kind of a deal. It is going to be a deal where we are able to go in and compete. Right now, India does not accept anybody in. I think India is going to do that, and if they do that, we are going to have a deal for much less tariffs," Trump said. Meanwhile, India has taken a firmer stand on agricultural issues as the negotiations continue. According to government sources, India's negotiating team, led by Chief Negotiator Rajesh Agrawal, has extended its stay in Washington. The trade talks were initially scheduled for Thursday and Friday but were extended as both sides work to finalise an interim agreement before the July 9 deadline. A senior official warned that failure to reach an agreement would result in the return of a 26 per cent tariff structure that had been temporarily suspended for 90 days. These tariffs were first imposed during the Trump administration on April 2. "The failure of these trade discussions would trigger the immediate reimplementation of the 26 per cent tariff structure," the official said.
Times of Oman
21 hours ago
- Business
- Times of Oman
US student visa applications have opened, says State Department official
Washington DC: US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Mignon Houston on Wednesday (local time) stated that student visa applications for the United States are now open and encouraged students to apply, while underlining that all visa decisions are taken keeping US national security in mind. Speaking to ANI, Houston said, "Our student visa applications have opened, students can apply and submit their application but what we want students to understand when they're applying for that visa, we want them to understand that we want to see a use of that visa that is in line with their application and the students come to the United States and study and not obstruct students from studying in class, not to vandalize campuses." She added, "Every decision we make is a US national security decision. We have these policies with the US immigration law to ensure that we are holding the highest standard for US immigration... not only to protect US citizens but also the other students studying here..." US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Mignon Houston also told ANI that India is an "essential partner" for Washington in the Indo-Pacific region, as talks continue for a bilateral trade agreement between the two nations. Speaking to ANI, Houston underlined the United States' aim of establishing a "fair and reciprocal" trade relationship with its partners, in line with the Trump administration's "America First" agenda. "We want trade that is fair and reciprocal. Working closely, India is an essential partner in the Indo-Pacific and the Quad. We expect that all our partners understand why this is so important to the 'America First' agenda, that we look for trade policies that have a fairness, reciprocal, balanced way to ensure that all parties benefit," Houston told ANI. She defended the Trump administration's decision to impose tariffs, saying unfair trade practices had harmed American farmers and industries. "I can say writ large as it relates to the United States' position that these tariffs are a way for countries to meet us at a place of fairness. The United States has an open economy, but there are unfair trade policies that have impacted US farmers and industries," she said. Talks between India and the US on a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) are underway, with a July 9 deadline fast approaching. The deadline marks the end of a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariff hikes. On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump said that a trade deal between India and the United States was likely soon and promised reduced tariffs. "I think we are going to have a deal with India. And that is going to be a different kind of a deal. It is going to be a deal where we are able to go in and compete. Right now, India does not accept anybody in. I think India is going to do that, and if they do that, we are going to have a deal for much less tariffs," Trump said. Meanwhile, India has taken a firmer stand on agricultural issues as the negotiations continue. According to government sources, India's negotiating team, led by Chief Negotiator Rajesh Agrawal, has extended its stay in Washington. The trade talks were initially scheduled for Thursday and Friday but were extended as both sides work to finalise an interim agreement before the July 9 deadline. A senior official warned that failure to reach an agreement would result in the return of a 26 per cent tariff structure that had been temporarily suspended for 90 days. These tariffs were first imposed during the Trump administration on April 2. "The failure of these trade discussions would trigger the immediate reimplementation of the 26 per cent tariff structure," the official said.
