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QUAD calls for swift resolution of Middle East conflict, ensuring freedom of navigation

The sides also condemned "the attacks on commercial shipping vessels and oppose any future measures that are inconsistent with UNCLOS, including imposition of tolls"

NEW DELHI, May 26. /TASS/. The countries of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD), which brings together India, Australia, the United States and Japan, have called for the swift resolution of the conflict in the Middle East and ensuring the freedom of navigation, according to a joint statement adopted after the meeting of QUAD foreign ministers in New Delhi on Tuesday.

"We discussed the situation in the Middle East/West Asia and reaffirm our support for ongoing diplomatic efforts and hope for lasting peace in the region," the authors of the document said, stressing the importance of "adhering to international law as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) with respect to navigational rights and freedoms, and the safety and uninterrupted flow of global commerce through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea."

The sides also condemned "the attacks on commercial shipping vessels and oppose any future measures that are inconsistent with UNCLOS, including imposition of tolls."

"Developments in key maritime regions have underscored the vulnerability of critical sea lanes and the risks posed to the uninterrupted flow of commerce. These challenges carry significant implications for the Indo-Pacific, which remains central to global trade and connectivity. Disruptions to maritime transport and supply chains have far-reaching consequences for global fuel, food and fertilizer security as well as the safety of seafarers," the statement reads.

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