QUAD: A Quadrilateral Cooperation or an Alliance to Counter Transgression in the Indo-Pacific Region?

Establishing diplomatic multilateral organizations to deal with political, economic, and military concerns to maintain global/regional peace and stability has been a standard practice in global politics for decades. One such association revived in recent years is QUAD.

QUAD is a diplomatic partnership between four countries India, the U.S.A., Japan, and Australia, committed to conducting annual strategic dialogue for a "free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific".

The QUAD which has been in the spotlight since 2017, can be seen tracing its roots back to 2007 when the idea of a Quadrilateral Security Dialogue was proposed for consideration by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in the backdrop of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, however, the withdrawal of Australia from this partnership caused its disarticulation in 2008. Despite several efforts, QUAD could not be manifested until 2017, when all four member countries unanimously agreed to revive the quadrilateral alliance to attain a secure Indio-Pacific strategic sea route and protect it against any influence. The influence here might suggest the escalating transgression by China in the Indo-Pacific territory, especially the South China Sea region.

Even though the inception of QUAD in 2007 was perceived as an attempt to counter China's territorial claims and notoriously increasing economic and political influence in the region, the QUAD Leader's Joint Statement: "The Spirit of Quad", issued after the resurgence of the forum, has laid out a much broader vision which encapsulates concerns of combating climate crisis, maritime security, top-notch infrastructure, cybersecurity, humanitarian assistance, technological advancement, and health-related challenges while respecting the centrality of ASEAN and seeking democratic resilience based on universal values. The coalition has pledged to foster a free and open Indo-Pacific by catering to the diverse challenges of contemporary times which makes this forum more inclusive.

On September 24, President Biden hosted Prime Minister Scott Morrison of Australia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, and Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga of Japan at the White House for the first-ever in-person Leaders’ Summit of the Quad. The leaders have put forth ambitious initiatives that deepen our ties and advance practical cooperation on 21st-century challenges: ending the COVID-19 pandemic, including by increasing production and access to safe and effective vaccines; promoting high-standards infrastructure; combatting the climate crisis; partnering on emerging technologies, space, and cybersecurity; and cultivating next-generation talent in all of our countries.

The aim and vision of QUAD after its revival have been a matter of discussion, giving rise to several speculations. For example - The alliance which was once labeled as "Asian NATO", will it be able to conduct a diplomatic dialogue beyond military concerns? Is calling the forum QUAD rather than Quadrilateral Security Dialogue a way to reflect that it is a diplomatic dialogue and not a military partnership? How relevant is the existence of QUAD as an inclusive strategic dialogue forum, in the presence of other forums like BRICS & SAARC? What unique element does it bring to the table? etc.

To rebuttal all the speculations and stand out in the Indo-Pacific region, QUAD would need to come up with plausible policies and effective implementation.