QUAD (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue)

External Affairs Minister during the Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Washington DC, reaffirmed India’s right to self-defence against terrorism and called for greater appreciation from Quad partners. The meeting also reviewed progress in key Quad initiatives and Indo-Pacific cooperation.

QUAD (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue)

• Members: India, United States, Japan, Australia
• Nature: Informal strategic forum, not a military alliance
• Inception: Proposed in 2007 by Japanese PM Shinzo Abe; revived in 2017
• Core Principles:
  • Free, open, inclusive, and rules-based Indo-Pacific
  • Maritime security, infrastructure connectivity, resilient supply chains
  • Climate cooperation, critical technologies, and humanitarian response

Significance of QUAD for India

• Strategic Counterbalance to China
  • Acts as a soft security alliance amid border tensions with China (e.g., Galwan clashes, 2020)
  • Malabar Naval Exercises enhance maritime deterrence
  • India's ‘Necklace of Diamonds’ strategy counters China’s ‘String of Pearls’
• Technological and Economic Cooperation
  • QUAD Critical & Emerging Technology Forum: Focuses on AI, Quantum, Biotech
  • National Quantum Mission (India): Supported by QUAD collaboration
  • Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF): Offers alternatives to China-led trade arrangements
• Infrastructure Development
  • QUAD Infrastructure Coordination Group aligns with:
    • India’s International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC)
    • Vision for regional connectivity and strategic influence
• Maritime Domain Awareness
  • Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA) launched in 2022
  • Enhances real-time tracking of vessels, combats illegal fishing and piracy
• Climate and Disaster Response
  • QUAD Climate Adaptation Package (Q-CHAMP) supports:
    • Green shipping corridors
    • Renewable energy cooperation
    • Early warning systems and disaster mitigation
• Cyber Security and Critical Technologies
  • QUAD Cybersecurity Partnership (2023) enhances regional cyber resilience
  • Launch of Open Radio Access Networks (RAN) in the Pacific (USD 20 million committed)
  • Semiconductor supply chains and secure telecom infrastructure supported

Major Challenges for India within QUAD

• China’s Perception and Bilateral Tensions
  • China views QUAD as a containment strategy
  • India balances strategic assertiveness with economic ties (bilateral trade: $135.98 billion in 2022)
• Divergent Member Priorities
  • US-Australia focus on security; India emphasizes inclusive, non-militarized cooperation
  • Differing stances on Ukraine-Russia war highlighted internal divergences
• Resource and Institutional Constraints
  • Domestic priorities may limit India’s capacity to fully implement QUAD obligations
  • QUAD vaccine initiative saw delays due to internal demand surges
• Operational and Interoperability Issues
  • India’s diverse defense imports (especially Russian systems) limit full interoperability
  • US CAATSA concerns linked to India’s S-400 purchase from Russia
• Diplomatic Balancing
  • India needs to maintain ASEAN centrality and continue BRICS-SCO engagements
  • Managing dual participation in QUAD and platforms with China and Russia requires nuanced diplomacy

Strategic Measures for India

• Issue-Based Alignment: Focus on tech, cyber, climate, and infrastructure while avoiding rigid security alliances
• Enhancing Domestic Capacity: Defense production under ‘Make in India’ (?1.08 lakh crore in 2022–23) and $10 billion semiconductor mission aligns with QUAD tech cooperation
• Agenda Setting: Lead in areas like climate (ISA, CDRI), disaster management, and green energy
• Strategic Autonomy and Diversification: Engage multilaterally (G20, SCO, ASEAN, BRICS) to preserve diplomatic space
• Economic and Technological Sovereignty: Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI) with Japan-Australia (2021) and Personal Data Protection Act 2024 strengthens tech governance within QUAD