Context
Leaders of the Quad group of countries met at their 6th summit-level meeting at Archmere Academy, Delaware, to announce a broad range of outcomes.
About Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD)
- It is an informal multilateral grouping of India, the U.S., Australia, and Japan aimed toward cooperation for a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
- Origin: The Quad began as a free partnership after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami when the 4 international regions joined collectively to offer humanitarian and disaster help to the affected region.
- It was formalized by former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2007, but then fell dormant.
- After a decade it was resurrected in 2017, reflecting changing attitudes within the region in the direction of China’s growing influence.
Key Initiatives of QUAD 2024
- Quad Cancer Moonshot, a groundbreaking partnership to save lives in the Indo-Pacific region.
- Under this, India will provide $7.5 million worth of HPV sampling kits, detection kits and cervical most cancers vaccines to countries within the Indo-Pacific.
- A commitment from the Serum Institute of India, in partnership with Gavi and the Quad, to help orders of up to 40 million HPV vaccine doses for the Indo-Pacific region.
- Coast Guard Cooperation: The First-ever “Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission” in 2025 to improve interoperability and increase maritime protection between our Coast Guards across the Indo-Pacific.
- The Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network pilot assignment, to be able to help civilian reaction to herbal disasters more swiftly and efficiently throughout the Indo-Pacific region.
- The “Quad Ports of the Future Partnership” will harness the Quad’s collective understanding to assist sustainable and resilient port infrastructure development throughout the Indo-Pacific.
- The “Semiconductor Supply Chains Contingency Network Memorandum of Cooperation” to enhance Quad resilience in semiconductor supply chains.
- Reform on the UN Security Council: The Leaders known the pressing want to make it more representative, inclusive, and democratic by enlargement in permanent and nonpermanent categories of membership.
- Quad Principles for Development and Deployment of Digital Public Infrastructure had been welcomed for the region and beyond.
- The Maritime Initiative for Training within the Indo-Pacific” (MAITRI) to enable regional partners to screen and stabilize their waters, put into effect their legal guidelines, and deter unlawful behavior.
- India will host the first MAITRI workshop in 2025.
The Strategic Significance of Quad
- Act East policy: India’s participation in the Quad emphasizing deeper engagement with East Asian nations and strengthening maritime protection cooperation.
- Military cooperation: It gives a platform for military cooperation, intelligence sharing, and joint physical activities geared toward keeping maritime security and ensuring the rule of thumb of regulation.
- Counterbalancing China’s Influence: QUAD is important for India’s interests in safeguarding its maritime trade routes and ensuring freedom of navigation in global waters.
Source: The Hindu