QUAD

This article deals with QUAD – UPSC.’ This is part of our series on ‘International Relations’ which is an important pillar of the GS-2 syllabus. For more articles, you can click here.


Quad is a strategic diplomatic partnership between Australia, India, Japan, and the United States to support an open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific that is inclusive and resilient.

QUAD

2004The origins of the Quad can be traced back to the ‘Tsunami Core Group‘, which was formed in the aftermath of the Indian Ocean Tsunami of December 2004 when the above countries came together to assist countries devastated by the Tsunami.
2007The first meeting of Quad was held on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum, and QUAD was formalized.
2017Quad remained dormant for nearly a decade.
2017The four countries again came together owing to China’s rising threat with the stated aim of establishing a rules-based international order.
2020Malabar Naval Exercise, which started in 1992 between India and the US and expanded in 2007 with the inclusion of Japan, was expanded to include Australia. Hence, the Malabar Naval Exercise became the first official grouping of the Quad
2021First Quad Leaders Summit was held (virtually)
2024India hosted the Quad Leader’s Summit

  • Membership: USA, Australia, Japan and India
  • QUAD does not have any Secretariat or Permanent decision-making body. It is maintained by Meetings and Military Drills (like the Malabar Naval Exercise).
  • Note: QUAD can be expanded QUAD-Plus with the inclusion of South Korea, Vietnam, New Zealand, and other countries sharing the same threat and values.

  • Securing the Strategic Sea Routes in the Indo-Pacific
  • Securing Rules-based Global Order
  • Establishing a Liberal Trading System
  • Offer Alternative Debt Financing
  • Addressing contemporary global issues.

Balancing the Chinese Power

  • QUAD partners can support India if Chinese hostilities rise on the Indo-China borders.
  • India is working with Quad partners to offer alternatives to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, a project that undermines India’s territorial sovereignty and regional primacy.

Cementing Indian position in the Indo-Pacific

  • Due to its favourable topographical location and peninsular geography, India has widespread trade and cultural connections with the Indo-Pacific littorals. QUAD provides a platform for India to advance its East Asian interests and further strengthen its Act East policy.

Net Security Provider

  • Quad membership will help India achieve the objective of being a Net Security Provider in the Indian Ocean.

Supplementing India’s Defence Capabilities

  • Cooperation in the field of defence among Quad members through joint patrols, exchange of strategic information, etc., can help India overcome its limitations pertaining to finances, naval capacity, military reconnaissance, and technological and surveillance capabilities.

Economic Advantage

  • Economically, the Quad will also make India a preferred destination for investment, with supply chain disruptions caused by dependence on China.

Possibilities of Wider Cooperation

  • During the COVID epidemic, the QUAD decided to coordinate on COVID-19 vaccines, Climate change and new-age Technology. This points towards the fact that QUAD is far more than a security pact against China.

  • Contrary to BRICS and SCO: India’s proactive engagement with the Quad can undermine her relationship with  BRICS & SCO, where China is an important partner. The Quad has deteriorated Sino-Indian and Indo-Russian relations.
  • Divergence on acceptable risks and costs: The acceptable risks and costs of Chinese threats are different for all the QUAD members owing to factors such as direct territorial disputes with China, their proximity and the risk of retaliation by Beijing.
  • Seen as Cold War Mentality: China has criticized the Quad diplomacy as reflective of a “Cold War mentality” and an attempt to establish an “Asian NATO”.
  • Less Institutionalization: The Quad remains relatively lightly institutionalized in its current form. It is neither a security arrangement nor a trade group, which could undermine its credibility and influence.
  • Conflicting signals from the US: The US announced a new trilateral defence partnership with Australia and the UK (AUKUS), leaving Japan and India from QUAD.
  • No Provision of Collective Security: Unlike NATO, the Quad does not have the provision for collective defence

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