Anchoring The QUAD

Context: The first in-person summit of QUAD is scheduled on 24 September, 2021.

Heightened importance of the meet amidst recent developments in geopolitics

• Repercussions of developments in Afghanistan on Indo-Pacific: Post the chaotic and mismanaged withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, US will have to convince its partners that this has strengthened its resolve to defend its and their interests in Indo-Pacific.
• Growing aggressiveness of China: China challenge now recognised as multi-faceted and long-term.
  • Added risks for India, as India is the only Quad power with land borders with China, and proximity to the serious threat of terrorism, extremism and radicalisation emanating from Afghanistan.
• Formation of AUKUS: A brand-new trilateral security partnership between the Australia, UK and US.
  • Quad members will have concerns regarding emergence of an inner circle (US and Australia) within the Quad, which is now connected to the UK, a non-Quad partner.
• European Union’s Indo-Pacific strategy: It paints the EU and the Indo-Pacific as deeply connected in diverse realms ranging from trade and investment to security and defence.
  • Positive aspect: EU’s determination to scale up and diversify cooperation with democratic and like-minded nations could be a boost to the Quad.
  • Challenge: To stand up to China’s assertive behaviour, violations of international law and norms and increasing use of coercion.

Way forward: Quad has to focus on institutionalising itself and fulfilling of past commitments

• Joint vaccine production programme: To begin by early 2022, focusing on needy Indo-Pacific countries.
• Working group on emerging technologies: Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) to derive benefits of interoperability of 5G technologies offered by different vendors in the west.
• On climate change: Issue of Climate Change is still unresolved as India is unable to ensure to show “more ambitions” regarding its climate goals.
  • Efforts are underway to finalise technology-sharing and other cooperation to meet the challenges.
• Inclusion of new areas: Like infrastructure and connectivity, education, cyber security and maritime security and cooperation in Blue economy.
  • Special focus on infrastructure as US announced “Build Back Better World” (B3W) at the G7 summit.
• Addressing China threat: A long tern vision will have to evolve.
• Joint innovative and practical recommendations are worth considering, like ‘The Quad Economy & Technology Task Force Report: A Time for Concerted Action,’” crafted by international experts and published by think tank Gateway House in August.