Quadrilateral Security Dialogue” (Quad)

Quadrilateral Security Dialogue” (Quad)

 

Why in the news?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the fourth Quad Leaders Summit which was held in Wilmington, Delaware on September 21 2024.

 

Key Point

The Indian Prime Minister joined President Biden (USA), Prime Minister Albanese (Australia) and Prime Minister Kishida (Japan) for the Quad Summit.

 

Key outcomes of the QUAD Leaders Summit 2024

  • The Quad leaders signed the Quad Wilmington Declaration to achieve their shared objectives. This proclamation emphasizes their commitment to a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific area.  India will host the next Quad Leaders’ Summit in 2025.
  • The Quad leaders announced the Maritime Initiative for Training in the Indo-Pacific (MAITRI) to assist regional partners in effectively applying tools from the Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA) and other Quad efforts. This initiative aims to improve monitoring, security, and law enforcement in regional waters while discouraging unlawful activity. India will host the first MAITRI workshop in 2025.
  • The Quad Cancer Moonshot is a new initiative focused on lowering the cancer burden in the Indo-Pacific. Building on their COVID-19 collaboration, this effort combines collective investments, scientific skills, and contributions from the corporate and non-profit sectors.
  • In 2025, the US, Japan, Australia, and Indian Coast Guards will set off on the first Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission. This mission seeks to improve marine safety and cooperation among the Quad nations.
  • The Quad Ports of the Future Partnership initiative seeks to utilize the Quad's collective expertise to promote sustainable and resilient port infrastructure development throughout the Indo-Pacific.
  • The leaders initiated a Quad Indo-Pacific logistical Network pilot project to share airlift capacity and exploit their combined capabilities. This program will allow faster and more efficient civilian responses to natural disasters in the Indo-Pacific region.
  • The Quad leaders signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on a Semiconductor Supply Chain Contingency Network to strengthen their semiconductor supply chains and assure stability and security in this significant industry. The Quad aims to improve energy efficiency by deploying and manufacturing high-efficiency, affordable cooling systems in the Indo-Pacific.

 

What is QUAD?

  • The Quad is a diplomatic partnership of four countries: Australia, India, Japan, and the United States committed to supporting an open, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific that is inclusive and resilient. The objective behind the QUAD group is the initiative for strategic and significant sea routes in the Indo-Pacific region to be free from any influence
  • Through the Quad, all four countries are supporting the region through practical cooperation on challenges such as maritime security, critical and emerging technologies, cyber security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, health security, climate change,counterterrorism, infrastructure and connectivity, and addressing the debt crisis through sustainable, transparent and fair lending and financing practices.

 

What is the full Form of QUAD?

The QUAD Summit refers to the meeting of the “Quadrilateral Security Dialogue” (Quad). The QUAD is a strategic forum that includes four nations: the United States, India, Japan, and Australia. The main purpose of the Quad is to ensure and promote a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region, based on shared democratic values and principles.

 

QUAD Summit History

 

2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami

The idea of the Quad emerged from the collaborative relief efforts of the United States, India, Japan, and Australia following the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004. This cooperation laid the groundwork for future collaboration on regional security and humanitarian issues.

 

Formalization and Initial Meetings (2007)

The Quad was formally initiated in 2007 by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, along with the then Vice President of the United States Dick Cheney, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and Australian Prime Minister John Howard. The group met on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum in Manila.

The initial enthusiasm faced a setback when Australia, under Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, withdrew from the dialogue in 2008, due to concerns about China’s reaction.

 

Revival in 2017

The Quad was revived in 2017, driven by renewed concerns over China’s assertive policies in the Indo-Pacific region. Officials from the four countries met in Manila on the sidelines of the ASEAN and East Asia Summits to discuss strategic issues and reaffirm their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific​

Ministerial and Leaders’ Meetings (2019-2020)

  • In September 2019, the Quad held its first formal ministerial-level meeting in New York City. The ministers discussed the vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific and coordinated efforts on issues like maritime security, counter-terrorism, and regional connectivity.
  • The first-ever Quad Leaders’ Summit was held virtually in March 2021, marking a significant elevation in the Quad’s stature. The leaders discussed critical and emerging technologies, climate change, and the COVID-19 pandemic​.

OBJECTIVES OF QUAD

  • As in the recently released statement titled ‘The Spirit of the Quad’, the group’s primary objectives include
    • maritime security
    • combating the Covid-19 crisis especially vis-à-vis vaccine diplomacy
    • addressing the risks of climate change
    • creating an ecosystem for investment in the region and
    • boosting technological innovation

 

  • Also, the core objective of the Quad is to secure a rules-based global order, freedom of navigation and a liberal trading system
  • Consistently, it is seen as a strategic grouping to reduce Chinese domination
  • Further, Quad members have also indicated a willingness to expand the partnership through a so-called Quad Plus that would include South Korea, New Zealand, and Vietnam amongst others

 

The Strategic Significance of Quad

  • The Quad has emerged as a key platform for promoting a rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific region.
  • For India, the Quad holds immense strategic significance, particularly in balancing China’s growing assertiveness in the region.
    • This is particularly crucial for India’s interests in safeguarding its maritime trade routes and ensuring freedom of navigation in international waters.

 

  • Platform for military cooperation  : It provides a platform for military cooperation, intelligence sharing, and joint exercises aimed at maintaining maritime security and ensuring the rule of law.
  •  Aligns with its “Act East” policy : India’s participation in the Quad aligns with its “Act East” policy, emphasizing deeper engagement with East Asian nations and strengthening maritime security cooperation.
  • India benefits from enhanced relations, especially with the U.S., through Quad engagements.
  • Diplomatic Leverage: The Quad also serves as a diplomatic platform for India to strengthen bilateral relationships with the United States, Japan, and Australia, forging deeper strategic partnerships that extend beyond maritime security to include areas like trade, technology, and global governance.

 

What Measures can India take to Balance its QUAD Commitments while Maintaining Strategic Autonomy?

  • Diversified Engagement Strategy: India should continue to engage with multiple regional and global forums alongside QUAD. This includes active participation in BRICS, SCO, and ASEAN-led mechanisms. 
  • Economic Diversification: India should use QUAD as a platform to diversify its economic partnerships while maintaining its economic sovereignty. 
  • Technology Partnerships with Safeguards: Engage in QUAD technology initiatives while ensuring robust data protection and technology transfer agreements. 
  • Issue-based Alignment within QUAD: India should pursue a flexible, issue-based alignment within QUAD, focusing on areas of mutual interest without compromising on its core strategic interests. 
  • Enhancing Domestic Capabilities: Investing in domestic capabilities, particularly in defense and technology sectors, can reduce external dependencies and strengthen India's position within QUAD.
  • Proactive Agenda Setting: India should take a more proactive role in setting the QUAD agenda, focusing on areas where it has strengths and which align with its strategic interests. 

 

Challenges

  • The Quad’s shortcoming is the disparity in geographic areas of marine emphasis among the four nations.
  • There are significant disparities in military capability, strategic culture, and the ability to endure the costs of any Chinese retribution among the four Quad countries.
  • A clear rebuttal to Beijing’s ‘win-win’ Belt and Road Initiative, highlighting the economic, political, and security threats.
  • From a strategic standpoint, QUAD’s main goal is to discourage Chinese attack and alter the status quo.
  • However, having learned lessons from the South China Sea and the Doklam war, India is hesitant to promote the strategic rules-based order.
  • Once a change is triggered, it cannot be reversed without a full-scale war, something no Quad nation is now willing to bear.

 

Way Forward

  • The Quad nations need to better explain the Indo-Pacific Vision in an overarching framework with the objective of advancing everyone’s economic and security interests.
  • India has many other partners in the Indo-Pacific; therefore, India should pitch for countries like Indonesia, Singapore to be invited to join in the future.
  • India should develop a comprehensive vision on the Indo-Pacific which would ideate on the current and future maritime challenges, consolidate its military and non-military tools, engage its strategic partners.

 

  • Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) is transforming itself into a trade bloc from a military alliance, in present times Discuss.
  • Discuss the role of the QUAD in promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific region and the implications of this vision for India's regional interests.

 

 

Q. With reference to QUAD consider the following statements:

1.Indonesia is one of the members of QUAD.

2.Its purpose is to keep the strategic sea routes in the Indo-Pacific free of any military or political influence.

Select the correct statements using the code given below:

(A) 1 only

 

(B) 2 only

 

(C) Both 1 and 2

 

(D) Neither 1 nor 2

 

Answer B