The first-ever Quad summit is an important milestone in the geopolitics of the region. The article highlights its significance.

Significance of the first Quad summit

• The maiden Quadrilateral Security Dialogue summit of the leaders of Australia, India, Japan and the U.S. on March 12 was a defining moment in Asian geopolitics.
• That it was a meeting at the highest political level, occasioned a productive dialogue, and concluded with a substantive joint statement is indicative of its immediate significance.
• If it leads to tangible action and visible cooperation, it will impact the whole region.

Brief background of the Quad

• The Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004 triggered cooperation among the navies and governments of the Quad powers.
• They sought to forge diplomatic cooperation on regional issues in 2006-08.
• But gave up mainly because China objected to it and the hostility to China was not yet a potent enough glue.
• This began to change in 2017 when Beijing’s behaviour turned hostile, climaxing in multiple challenges in 2020.
• This time, U.S. President Joe Biden moved swiftly to host a virtual summit, drawing immediate response from the other three leaders.

5 highlights of the summit

• A more sophisticated approach is being invented, with enhanced emphasis by the U.S. on carrying its allies and strategic partners together.
•  The summit’s outcome, therefore, merits close attention for at least five reasons.

1) Compromise over vision of Indo-Pacific

• Past debates over diverse, even differing, visions of the Indo-Pacific are over.
• The joint statement struck a neat compromise:
• To please the U.S. and Japan, it refers to a “free and open” Indo-Pacific, but in the very next sentence it offers an elaboration – “free, open, inclusive, healthy, anchored by democratic values, and unconstrained by coercion” – that amply satisfy India and Australia.

2) Alignment of approach towards China

• The summit leaders have secured an adequate alignment of their approaches towards China.
• Senior officials gave sufficient hints on this score, reinforced by phrases such as “security challenges” and “the rules-based maritime order in the East and South China Seas” in the joint statement.
• Instead of unidimensional antagonism, the Quad members have preferred a smart blend of competition, cooperation and confrontation.

3) Quad’s commitment development and well being of the region

• The Quad has placed a premium on winning the battle for the hearts and minds of people in the Indo-Pacific region.
• This explains the special initiative to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines for every person in need in the region from the western Pacific to eastern Africa.

4) Working groups

• The establishment of three working groups on vaccine partnership; climate change; and critical and emerging technologies and their new standards, innovation and supply chains is a welcome step.
• All this should get the four national establishments into serious policy coordination and action mode, creating new capacities.
• The careful choice of themes reflects a deep understanding of the long-term challenge posed by China and has global implications.

5) Quad working together in future

• The March 12 summit will not be a one-off.
• The leaders have agreed to meet in-person later this year, possibly at an international event within the region.
• Foreign ministers will gather at least once a year; other relevant officials, more often.
• Thus, will grow the habits of the Quad working together for a common vision and with agreed modalities for cooperation.

How ASEAN and China will react

• The summit has been watched closely by the ASEAN capitals. A few of them may express cautious welcome.
• Beijing seems rattled but resigned to the Quad’s new momentum.
• The Chinese see it in negative terms, targeting New Delhi in particular.

Consider the question “With the first-ever summit, the Quad is moving towards a strong coalition. In light of this, examine the challenges India faces as it deepes its engagement in the grouping.” 

Conclusion

The summit and ‘The Spirit of the Quad’ – the inspired title of the joint statement – represented a giant leap forward. Now is the time to back political commitment with a strong mix of resolve, energy, stamina and the fresh ideas of stakeholders and experts outside of government to fulfil the promise of the Quad.

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