Quad

Quad

Context: India for the first time officially used the term “Quad” to describe its grouping with the US, Australia and Japan which held its third foreign ministers meet within last 6 months.

Concept:

• India for the first-time mentioned Quad and India’s “commitment to upholding a rules-based international order, underpinned by respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty, rule of law, transparency, freedom of navigation in the international seas and peaceful resolution of disputes” (so far India referred to it as “meeting of four countries”).
• Significance of the meeting is the first Quad meeting post change of govt in USA reflects continuity in Washington’s approach towards China.
• The group reiterated commitment to free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region, with clear support for ASEAN cohesion and centrality.

About quad

• Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) is the informal strategic dialogue between India, USA, Japan and Australia with a shared objective to ensure and support a “free, open and prosperous” Indo-Pacific region.
• The idea of Quad was first mooted by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2007. However, the idea couldn’t move ahead with Australia pulling out of it, apparently due to Chinese pressure.
• In November 2017, India, the US, Australia and Japan gave shape to the long-pending “Quad” Coalition to develop a new strategy to keep the critical sea routes in the Indo-Pacific free of any influence (especially China).