Quad and a Strategic Update

Context: Though India has to emphasis more on Quad to maintain its “strategic autonomy”, but it is important to realise that organisations like BRICS and SCO still holds relevance.

Organisations at play

• Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad): India’s coalition with the United States (US), Australia and Japan.
• BRICS: was the symbol of India’s “strategic autonomy” during unipolar moment after 1991 (US dominated); includes: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
• Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO):  Eurasian forum founded jointly by China and Russia.

Factors responsible for India’s move towards QUAD: To maintain India’s “strategic autonomy”.

• Improved ties with the US: Due to change the instance of US in major issues
  • Kashmir issue: During the 1990s, the US was keen to mediate on the issue, but recently they had dropped their itch for mediation.
  • Resolved the nuclear dispute: Currently, the US is supporting India’s membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
  • Widened economic and political cooperation.
• Increasing rift with China: Reasons
  • China working against India’s interest: e.g.
    • Raking up Kashmir issue in United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
    • Blocking India’s membership of the NSG.
    • Stand against India’s permanent membership of the UNSC.
    • Undermines India’s territorial sovereignty and regional primacy- through projects like Belt and Road Initiative.
  • China’s support for cross-border terrorism.
  • Rising military profile of China: creating an imbalance in India’s neighbourhood.
• Change in Global power politics: The present emphasis on QUAD (as opposed to the BRICS) is for limiting the dangers of a unipolar Asia dominated by China (rather than the US).
• Growing strategic congruence: among member nations.

Present relevance of organisations like BRICS and SCO

• They can act as a useful channel of communication: between India and China.
• To maintain India’s enduring partnerships: with Russia, Brazil, South Africa and Central Asian states.
• Potential to become a productive forum in future: when India and China mitigate their multiple contentions.