Leaders of the Quad countries gathered for their sixth summit to enhance collaboration on security, health,
and education initiatives.
The meeting also aimed to tackle regional challenges, including maritime aggression in the IndoPacific and the ongoing war in Ukraine.
They announced various projects aimed at strengthening mutual support and cooperation.
What is Quad?
o The grouping of four democracies –India, Australia, US and Japan– is known as the quadrilateral
security dialogue or quad.
o The aim of this grouping is to ensure a free and open international order based on the rule of
law in the Indo- Pacific.
Objectives: The group’s primary objectives include
o 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.
Initiatives from the Quad Summit
New Coast Guard Exercise: The launch of the Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission in 2025 aims to
enhance interoperability and maritime safety among member nations.
Maritime Initiative for Training in the Indo-Pacific (MAITRI): A training program to assist Quad
partners in monitoring and securing their waters, with India set to host the inaugural workshop in
2025.
Logistics Network Pilot Project: Quad countries will share airlift capacity to bolster disaster
response efforts.
Cervical Cancer Combat: The ‘Quad Cancer Moonshot’ initiative will involve a $10 million
commitment from India for cervical cancer screening, with Serum Institute of India and Gavi
providing up to 40 million vaccines for the region.
Maritime Legal Dialogue: A dialogue has been initiated to support actions aimed at upholding the
rules-based order in maritime issues.
Condemnation of Maritime Aggression: The Quad leaders expressed strong concerns over
maritime aggression in the East and South China Seas, highlighting issues of militarization and
intimidation.
Ukraine and Gaza Conflicts: The declaration touched on the global impact of the Ukraine war,
particularly on food and energy security, and called for increased humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Quad Fellowship Expansion: The fellowship for STEM education has been expanded to include 50
scholarships worth $500,000 for students from the region to pursue studies in government-funded
technical institutions in India.
Significance of Quad for India
Countering China’s economic and military rise
o As a member of the Quad, in the event of rise in the Chinese hostilities on its borders, India can
take the support of the other Quad nations to counter it.
o In addition, India can even take the help of its naval front and conduct strategic explorations in
the Indo-Pacific region.
For a free and open Indo-Pacific
o The summit vowed to strive for an Indo-Pacific region, that is free, open, inclusive, and
unconstrained by coercion.
o This aspect becomes important for India, in the wake of China’s aggressiveness and coercive
nature in the strategic Indo-Pacific region.
India as a Net Security provider
o For India to assert this role as a Region, its dominance in the Indian Ocean Region needs to be
maintained and sustained.
o In this perspective, QUAD provides India a platform to enhance security through partnership in
the region.
Multipolar World
o India has supported a rule based multipolar world and QUAD can help it in achieving its
ambition of becoming a regional superpower.
Post COVID Diplomacy
o There have been disruptions of supply chain across the world due to the Pandemic, and this
might result in an over dependence on China for Global Value chains.
o Under such a situation, India should use it diplomacy with QUAD group to establish a base for its
expertise in manufacturing sector.