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Q. In light of the new security cooperation efforts springing up across the Indo-Pacific, including strengthening of the Australia-Japan-U.S. trilateral, discuss the relevance of the QUAD in the present geopolitical climate.

Approach:

• Give a brief introduction about the QUAD.
• Give an account of the advantage of the trilateral over the QUAD as well as new security cooperation efforts springing up across the Indo-Pacific apart from the QUAD.
• Discuss how the QUAD is still significant.
• Give a brief conclusion.

Answer:

The QUAD is an informal strategic forum comprising four nations – USA, India, Australia and Japan. Its significance lies in the fact that it is seen as a strategic grouping, aimed at reducing Chinese domination in the Indo-Pacific region. It aims to secure a rules-based global order, freedom of navigation and a liberal trading system.

There is no doubt that the QUAD is a promising security mechanism, however, the factors mentioned below pose a question on its significance

• Recently, Japan and the UK signed a defense agreement that would facilitate deployment of troops in each other’s countries.
• In the recent Japan-US 2+2 meeting, they agreed to build an alliance that bolsters deterrence and addresses evolving security challenges.
• Japan, Italy, and the U.K. signed an agreement to develop the next generation of air fighter jets under the new Global Combat Air Program.
• The AUKUS treaty between Australia, the UK, and USA, relating to Australia’s acquiring nuclear-powered submarines, is another important agreement in the Indo-Pacific involving two of the QUAD partners.
• India also has signed military logistics and reciprocal agreements with Australia, Japan, USA (the QUAD countries) and with France, Singapore, and South Korea.
• Strengthening of Australia-Japan-U.S. trilateral- The trilateral seems to be more significant for the Indo-Pacific than the QUAD due to the following:
• Consistency in cooperation under pressure has strengthened the triangle over the years. The year 2022 marked two decades of cooperation for the trilateral.
• The QUAD has dealt itself out of defense issues while regular meetings of the trilateral defense ministers as well as intent to increase military interoperability shows the commitment to expand cooperation on strategic capabilities.
• Pacific security does not represent an area of strong overlapping interest for the QUAD because India is far removed from the Pacific Island nations and has more pressing issues with the Chinese influence in South Asia and the Indian Ocean.

However, the QUAD grouping would still remain significant for the following reasons:

• The China challenge is persistent and the world’s like-minded democratic countries are intent on countering China.
• The idea of QUAD is as much about enhancing ties among the four members as it is about providing credible alternatives to regional states that often end up without any real option other than to seek Chinese help.
• The QUAD’s ambitions and visibility have increased over the past few years. The QUAD agenda has been evolving and now includes key areas of convergence like trade, infrastructure, maritime security etc.
• The American Indo-Pacific policy also now categorically envisions a “strong and reliable QUAD” alongside an “engaged” Europe.
• The QUAD members are willing to look past their other divergences. For example, QUAD’s recent joint statement depicts this maturity particularly through India’s stand on Myanmar, North Korea, and China.

Also, one only has to look at the growing list of countries that want to join the platform to gauge its significance. The challenge for the QUAD now is to define its agenda with greater clarity and establish it as one of the most significant strategic actors in the world.