03-January-2025-Editorial

QUAD MARKS 20 YEARS OF COOPERATION: INDIA SET TO HOST KEY SUMMIT IN 2025

The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) is a strategic forum involving India, the United States, Japan, and Australia. It plays a vital role in promoting peace, security, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, especially in the face of increasing challenges like China’s growing assertiveness. Recently, the Quad Foreign Ministers celebrated 20 years of cooperation, reaffirming their commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific.

What is the Quad?

The Quad is an informal strategic group formed by India, the US, Japan, and Australia.

It focuses on ensuring regional security, economic growth, and collaboration in the Indo-Pacific region.

Objectives

• Uphold a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific.
• Promote democratic values, human rights, and the rule of law.
• Counterbalance China’s rising influence and assertive actions in the region.

Formation and Evolution of the Quad

Tsunami Relief in 2004

• The Quad’s roots trace back to the joint rescue efforts during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

Formal Formation in 2007

• Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe proposed the Quad as a formal group.
• Australia temporarily withdrew in 2008 due to Chinese pressure and regional concerns.

Revival in 2017

• Renewed US-Australia military cooperation led to Australia rejoining the Quad.
• The first official talks occurred in the Philippines in 2017.

Malabar Naval Exercises

• Initiated in 1992 as an India-US naval drill.
• Japan joined in 2015, and Australia participated in 2020, strengthening maritime collaboration.

Key Features of the Quad

• Informal Structure: The Quad lacks a permanent secretariat or formal alliance framework.
• Collaborative Mechanism: Operates through regular summits, ministerial meetings, and military exercises.

Major Quad Initiatives

Maritime Security

• Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA):

• Enhances real-time tracking of illegal fishing and maritime activities.
• Collaborates with regional organizations like India’s Information Fusion Center.

• Maritime Initiative for Training in the Indo-Pacific (MAITRI):

• Provides training for maritime security and law enforcement.

Economic and Technological Initiatives

• Indo-Pacific Logistics Network: Facilitates disaster response by sharing logistical resources.
• Open RAN Initiative: Develops secure 5G ecosystems.
• Semiconductor Supply Chain Network: Strengthens supply chain resilience.

Health and Education

• Quad Cancer Moonshot: Focuses on cervical cancer prevention and treatment.
• Quad Fellowship: Offers STEM education scholarships to students from member countries and ASEAN nations.

Climate and Agriculture

• AI-ENGAGE Program: Uses artificial intelligence to advance agriculture in the Indo-Pacific.
• BioExplore Initiative: Funds biological research for healthcare and clean energy.

Significance of the Quad for India

Maritime Security

• Helps safeguard India’s maritime interests.
• Joint naval exercises improve operational coordination and surveillance.

Strategic Benefits

• Offers a platform to counter China’s “String of Pearls” strategy.
• Aligns with India’s Act East Policy to strengthen ties with Southeast Asia.

Economic Opportunities

• Encourages investments in resilient supply chains.
• Positions India as a hub for manufacturing post-COVID-19.

Scientific and Cultural Collaboration

• Promotes research through Quad Fellowships in STEM fields.
• Enhances people-to-people connections and strengthens India’s soft power.

Relevance of the Quad in the Current Global Context

Strategic Importance

• Plays a key role in balancing China’s influence in contested areas like the South China Sea.
• Supports regional frameworks like ASEAN and the Indian Ocean Rim Association.

Multi-Dimensional Agenda

• Addresses health, technology, infrastructure, and climate issues.
• Initiatives like the Quad Cancer Moonshot and climate resilience programs reflect its broader focus.

Institutional Development

• Regular meetings and summits have strengthened the Quad’s operational framework.

People-Centric Approach

• Fellowships and scholarships build trust and goodwill in the region.

Challenges to the Quad

• Structural Weaknesses: Lack of a permanent secretariat or formal decision-making body limits effectiveness.
• Divergent Interests: Member nations have varying priorities, with some focusing more on security and others on economic development.
• China’s Influence: Despite Quad efforts, China continues to expand its reach through initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
• Resource Constraints: Many Quad projects require significant funding, which can delay implementation.
• Overlapping Objectives: Quad’s goals sometimes overlap with other forums like AUKUS and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), creating redundancies.

Way Forward

• Institutionalization: Establish a formal mechanism for decision-making and implementation. Strengthen collaboration with regional organizations like ASEAN.
• Expand Membership: Include countries like South Korea, Vietnam, and New Zealand to enhance inclusivity.
• Focus Areas: Prioritize climate change, disaster resilience, and healthcare.
• Resource Mobilization: Secure funding for critical projects in infrastructure, digital connectivity, and renewable energy.

Conclusion

The Quad continues to evolve as a strategic partnership aimed at fostering peace, security, and development in the Indo-Pacific. While challenges persist, its collaborative initiatives and adaptability underscore its significance in shaping the region’s future.