India has yet to respond to the announcement of the Australia-UK-USA (AUKUS) trilateral security pact. The main objective of this security trilateral, meant to help balance out China in the region.
The QUAD has made it clear that it is not a security grouping; however, this trilateral defence pact will complement the diplomatic outfit. The QUAD and AUKUS will run parallelly going forward, but there may be an opportunity for them to merge in the foreseeable future.
What is the QUAD?
A) Formation of QUAD
Since its establishment in 2007, the representatives for the four-member nations have met periodically. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was the first to pitch the idea for the formation of Quad in 2007.
Its origins can be traced back to the evolution of Exercise Malabar and the 2004 Tsunami when India conducted relief and rescue operations for itself and neighbouring countries and got later joined by the US, Japan and Australia.
Therefore, China issued formal diplomatic protests to the members of the Quad.
B) Australia’s withdrawal
However, Australia withdrew from the forum due to the political pressure from the Chinese government and in the wake of the growing conflict between the US and China in the Asia-Pacific region.
In 2010, enhanced military cooperation between the US and Australia resumed, leading to Australia’s comeback to the Quad’s naval exercises.
In 2012, the Japanese PM emphasized Asia’s ‘Democratic Security Diamond’ comprising the US, Japan, India and Australia. It was in 2017 when the first official talks under the Quad took place in the Philippines.
C) Principles of Quad
The motive behind the Quad is to keep the strategic sea routes in the Indo-Pacific free of any military or political influence. It is seen as a strategic grouping to reduce Chinese domination.
The core objective of the Quad is to secure a rules-based global order, freedom of navigation and a liberal trading system. The coalition also aims to offer alternative debt financing for nations in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Quad leaders exchange views on contemporary global issues such as critical and emerging technologies, connectivity and infrastructure, cyber security, maritime security, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, climate change, pandemic and education.
D) Significance of Quad for India
A widespread belief that the forum strategically counters China’s economic and military rise. Interestingly, if Chinese hostilities rise on the borders, India can support the other Quad nations to oppose the communist government.
In addition, India can even take the help of its naval front and conduct strategic explorations in the Indo-Pacific region.
E) Quad Summit
In March 2021, US President Joe Biden hosted the first-ever summit of the Quad leaders in a virtual format. It vowed to strive for an Indo-Pacific region that is free, open, inclusive, anchored by democratic values and unconstrained by coercion, sending a clear message to China.
Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi will soon travel to the US to attend the first in-person Quad leaders’ summit on September 24. He will also address the UN General Assembly in New York on September 25.
The White House announced on Monday night that “US President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. will host the first-ever Quad Leaders’ Summit at the White House on September 24. President Biden is eagerly looking forward to welcoming to the White House Prime Minister Scott Morrison of Australia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, and Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga of Japan.”
What is the AUKUS trilateral defence pact?
It is a new trilateral strategic defence alliance between Australia, the UK, and the US, initially to build a class of nuclear-propelled submarines and work together in the Indo-Pacific region, where the rise of China is seen as an increasing threat, and develop broader technologies.
It means Australia will terminate the contract given to France in 2016 to build 12 diesel electric-powered submarines to replace its existing Collins submarine fleet.
The deal is significant because this is the first time the US has shared nuclear propulsion technology with an ally apart from the UK.
When will the submarines be ready, and who will build them?
No date has been announced, and the scoping phase itself will last 18 months. In the interim, America may operate attack submarines out of HMAS Stirling, an Australian naval base in Perth.
The US will be the leader of this project, and the precise technology it is willing to share is unclear, as is the UK role in the supply of the submarines.
AUKUS Can Complement Quad
India has not remarked on the formation of AUKUS. Reports express that preceding the declaration, the Indian Prime Minister, unfamiliar and safeguard priests, were advised regarding the matter by their Australian partners. Consequently, India knew about the turns of events.
Quad individuals have their locales of interest inside the Indo-Pacific. India is worried about the Indian Ocean, Australia with the South Pacific, Japan with the East China Sea and the US with the South China Sea; however, the resistance stays antagonistic to China.
Aside from the US, no other country has working bases near the South China Sea. The other shared characteristic is that fundamental to the area remains ASEAN.
