Quad 2024: Enhanced Alignment and A Shared Vision for the Indo-Pacific

New Delhi viewed the summit as reinforcing India's commitment to a rules-based international order, addressing regional security concerns, and enhancing maritime cooperation. The focus on critical and emerging technologies, supply chain resilience, development of port and logistic infrastructure, and maritime domain awareness initiatives were areas where India saw tangible benefits.

Recently, on 30th December 2024, QUAD foreign ministers issued a joint statement celebrating the 20th anniversary of cooperation among the four countries—Australia, India, Japan and the US. This joint statement underlined unwavering support for “ASEAN centrality and unity” as well as mainstreaming and implementing the “ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific." It also reiterated its support for other regional institutions like the Pacific Islands Forum and the Indian Ocean Rim Association.

The usage of the words “support for ASEAN centrality and unity” and backing for other regional institutions was very significant. It underlined these countries'a’s efforts to give more space to ASEAN countries and other regional platforms in this region while indirectly curbing China’s expanding geopolitical and geostrategic influence. By championing ASEAN unity, QUAD countries aim to target Chinese policy of creating divisions among ASEAN countries and exploiting those differences to their advantage. This approach reflects a broader strategy to promote a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific and to ensure that regional dynamics are shaped by inclusive, multilateral engagement rather than coercive measures[1].

However, the significant milestone this year in the development of this strategic regional grouping was the Quad Summit, held in Wilmington, Delaware, USA. It was originally going to be held in India, but President Biden was eager to conduct the event in his hometown of Delaware, reflecting his strong commitment to this grouping. In their “The Wilmington Declaration Joint Statement” released on 21 September, the Quad countries declared that they are “more strategically aligned than ever” and “a force for global good[2].”

The main objective of the QUAD members is to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific region. However, China claims that this strategic regional grouping intends to restrict its rise. In the Wilmington Declaration, as in previous joint statements, China was not mentioned directly. However, there are indirect references which point to it as a destabilizing force in the region. During this summit, this grouping, in an unnamed reference to China, expressed strong opposition to "destabilizing or unilateral actions" that seek to alter the region's status quo through force or coercion. Compared to earlier QUAD declarations, the language used this time was notably stronger and hasher, indirectly targeting China without explicitly naming it[3]. As the joint statement read, "As four leading maritime democracies in the Indo-Pacific, we unequivocally support the maintenance of peace and stability in this dynamic region as an essential component of global security and prosperity. We strongly oppose any destabilizing or unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo through force or coercion[4]”.

The joint statement criticized "recent illicit missile launches in the region" and expressed "serious concern" about unilateral actions and aggressions in the Indo-Pacific. It said:

"We seek a region in which no country dominates or is dominated— one in which all countries are free of coercion and have the ability to shape their own destinies. We are united in our commitment to upholding a stable and open international system, with its strong support for human rights, the principle of freedom, rule of law, democratic values, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and peaceful settlement of disputes, as well as the prohibition on the threat or use of force in accordance with international law, including the UN Charter".

China is notably involved in territorial disputes across the Himalayas with India and has increased its strategic presence in India's continental and maritime periphery. It is also engaged in territorial conflicts with its neighbours in both the South and East China Seas, with Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Brunei, and Malaysia, which are vehemently disputing its claims[5].

During this summit, Modi recalled the first Quad Summit, which was held in 2021 under Biden's leadership, and stated, "In such a short time, we have expanded our cooperation unprecedentedly in every direction." "I thank you for your steadfast commitment, your leadership, and your contributions to the Quad," he said. Furthermore, at the Quad Summit, PM Modi emphasized India's strategy of collaboration, contact, and engagement for growth with a wide range of Indo-Pacific partners. PM Modi expressed his happiness for attending the meeting at the start of his third term. Moreover, when asked if the Quad will last after the US elections in November, Biden, while placing his hand on PM Modi’s shoulder, accompanied by a friendly gesture towards him, said, "Way beyond November," emphasizing the continuous US commitment to this strategic mechanism. This warm gesture of Biden towards Modi was also a vindication of Washington’s deep commitment to India-US bilateral ties. The next Quad Summit is scheduled to take place in India, and the new president Donald Trump is expected to attend it.[6]

Strategic Initiatives

During this summit, the QUAD Coalition members unveiled the Maritime Initiative for Training in the Indo-Pacific (MAITRI), a new regional programme designed to help partners in the region make the most of the resources offered by the Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA) and other Quad partner initiatives to secure and monitor their waters, impose legal restrictions, and discourage illegal activity. To further provide the region with cutting-edge technologies and information-enhancing capabilities, Quad Partners plan to add fresh data and technology to IPMDA throughout the duration of the upcoming year.[7]

To promote maritime safety and enhance interoperability, the QUAD nations also revealed that the Coast Guards of the US, Japan and India along with Australian Border Force intend to initiate the first-ever Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission in 2025. These missions will be followed by additional ones in the future throughout the Indo-Pacific. They also unveiled the Quad Cancer Moonshot, a health security initiative with a commitment to work with partner nations to reduce the burden of cancer in the region, building on their successful partnership during the COVID-19 pandemic and their collective investments in terms of scientific and medical capabilities with contributions from private and non-profit sectors. Additionally, PM Modi announced India's $7.5 million donation to the Quad Moonshot Initiative, which will assist vaccinations, detection kits, and sample kits for health measures. He declared, "”One Earth, One Health” is India's vision.[8]

The finalization of a Memorandum of Cooperation for the Semiconductor Supply Chains Contingency Network, which will facilitate cooperation in addressing risks associated with the semiconductor supply chain, was welcomed by Quad Leaders. "We remain committed to advancing our cooperation on semiconductors through better leveraging of our complementary strengths to realize a diversified and competitive market and enhance resilience of Quad's semiconductor supply chains”.[9]

The “Quad Ports of the Future Partnership project,” which was announced during this summit, also highlights the Quad's capabilities in supporting the development of robust and sustainable quality port infrastructure throughout the Indo-Pacific region. Towards this, the Quad partners would coordinate, exchange information, share best practices with partners in the region, and leverage resources to mobilize government and private sector investments. 

Additionally, they announced the beginning of a pilot project known as the “Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network,” which aims to explore shared airlift capacity among the four countries and utilize their combined logistics strengths to support civilian response to natural disasters in the Indo-Pacific region more quickly and effectively. The Quad also prioritizes providing the region with high-quality, robust infrastructure in order to boost connectivity, expand regional capability, and meet pressing requirements. Furthermore, there is an expression of commitment to an inclusive, open, sustainable, equitable, safe, dependable, and secure digital future in order to promote shared prosperity and sustainable development when it announced agreed Principles for Development and Deployment of Digital Public Infrastructure.[10]

In order to counter common risks from state-sponsored actors, cybercriminals, and other non-state hostile actors, the QUAD countries also pledged to strengthen their cybersecurity cooperation. Furthermore, acknowledging the crucial role that space-related technologies and applications play in the Indo-Pacific region, the four governments plan to keep providing Earth Observation data and other space-related applications to help countries in the Indo-Pacific region improve their early warning systems for climate change and more effectively handle the effects of extreme weather.

Through partnerships with Indian institutions for training projects, the US intends to invest about $7 million to support the worldwide expansion of Asia Open RAN Academy (AORA). To guarantee that Tuvalu is prepared for the countrywide rollout of 5G, the QUAD partners will collaborate with the Tuvalu Telecommunications Corporation. In order to foster international standardization collaboration and the development of frameworks for AI conformity assessment, the QUAD Countries initiated two Track 1.5 conversations on AI and Advanced Communications Technologies through the Standards Sub-Group. In addition, the QUAD partners expressed excitement about starting the BioExplore Initiative, a cooperative project backed by an initial $2 million in funding that will employ AI technology to research and examine biological ecosystems in each of the four nations.[11]

All these above initiatives underline that QUAD countries focus on both security and non-security areas to strategically balance China. Such balanced approach ensures that the QUAD is perceived as broad-based, preventing ASEAN and other countries from viewing it solely through the security lens. The integration of both security and non-security elements— though all of these are strategic in nature— demonstrates a comprehensive approach to addressing China's influence.

QUAD Summit: New Delhi’s View

During this summit, PM Narendra Modi stated, "Our message is clear: Quad is here to stay, to partner, and to complement," and that "the working together of Quad with its democratic values is significant for the entire human race" in the face of difficulties and conflicts. The usage of the word ‘to stay’ reflects significant commitment of New Delhi to this strategic grouping and underlines that New Delhi sees it as a long-term strategic project. Additionally, the usage of the word ‘complement’ by Modi in his address carries a deeper meaning and makes it clear that New Delhi does not view other US-led strategic regional groupings like AUKUS negatively.[12]

The Executive Director of the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) America, Dhruva Jaishankar, stressed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US for the Quad Summit was critical in solidifying the Quad's progress over the previous four years. Speaking to ANI, Dhruva said, "I believe it was about integrating a lot of work done by the Quad over the last four years. That was the important point. There were a few new efforts, like the Coast Guard one... But primarily, I believe it was about consolidating those advantages”.[13]

Harsh V Pant, Director and Head of the Strategic Studies Programme at the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi, stated, "The idea of the QUAD is to give an alternative to the emerging Chinese-led order in the region" and went on to say, "The QUAD is finally getting its act together through this summit when it comes to maritime security." It launched a new regional maritime training initiative (MAITRI) to assist regional partners in the Indo-Pacific”.[14] According to him  QUAD unites four countries with common strategic objectives, albeit different approaches to accomplishing them and India’s role here is very noteworthy. India is against formal alliances, while the US, Japan, and Australia are allies. Even so, these four countries have worked together to create a shared vision for an inclusive, resilient, free, and open Indo-Pacific region. Developing security architecture in the area now has some coherence thanks to this. He would argue: “Countries [in different regions[ as far apart as Southeast Asia, the Indian Ocean, and the South Pacific are now discovering in the Quad a respectable substitute for Chinese dominance."

India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar commended the QUAD as a “non-treaty” framework that brings together countries with shared values— market economies, democracies, and maritime powers— committed to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific. "I believe this is the future," Jaishankar remarked. In an interview, when questioned about India’s membership in diverse groups like the QUAD, BRICS, and the SCO, he explained that this approach is well-suited to the current complex and fluid international order. Unlike the binary choices of the Cold War era, Jaishankar stressed that India’s participation in multiple regional coalitions reflects today’s global realities, offering operational flexibility to advance its national interests. He affirmed, “We can chew gum and walk at the same time[15].”

Tanvi Madan, senior fellow and director of the India Project at the Brookings Institution, highlighted India’s strong commitment to the QUAD, acknowledging its importance in advancing India's interests, particularly in light of regional geopolitical developments involving China. She pointed out that the QUAD offers India valuable alternatives in both security and economic areas where it cannot act alone and requires partners. She also observed that Prime Minister Modi has been actively involved in various minilateral and plurilateral groupings, while showing a personal dedication to the QUAD, much like President Biden’s engagement during the summit.[16]

In short, the QUAD summit was seen as a significant step in strengthening India's strategic interests, particularly in the Indo-Pacific. New Delhi viewed the summit as reinforcing India's commitment to a rules-based international order, addressing regional security concerns, and enhancing maritime cooperation. The focus on critical and emerging technologies, supply chain resilience, development of port and logistic infrastructure, and maritime domain awareness initiatives were areas where India saw tangible benefits. Additionally, the summit’s alignment with India’s broader foreign policy strategy of multilateralism and operational flexibility was considered a success. Overall New Delhi regarded the summit as a constructive platform for advancing both national and regional objectives.

Conclusion

The Quad Wilmington Summit of 2024 and the recent joint statement have highlighted the grouping's maturity and strategic coherence. Its ability to deliver on both traditional security concerns and emerging global challenges makes it a unique and indispensable framework in the Indo-Pacific. Given its promise and assurance, QUAD is expected to remain a strategic priority for the new Trump presidency, as this framework is part of America’s long-term grand geostrategic thinking. For India, the Quad remains a vital platform to project its influence, uphold a rules-based order, and ensure a balanced approach to regional power dynamics. The outcomes of the summit signal a robust and enduring Quad partnership that is well-equipped to navigate the complexities of the emerging geopolitics in the wider Indo-Pacific region.

Imran Khurshid, Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Kashmir, specializes in Indo-Pacific studies and South Asian security issues. He is currently associated with the International Centre for Peace Studies (ICPS) as a Visiting Research Fellow. The views expressed here are his own.

Endnotes

[1] Office of the spokesperson, “Joint Statement from the Quad Foreign Ministers Commemorating the 20th Anniversary of Quad Cooperation”, United States Department of State”, 30 December 2024.

[2] Jocelyn Fernandes, “Wilmington Declaration: Quad leaders commit to peace, stability, strategic alliance in Indo-Pacific as ‘force for good”, Today News, 22 September 2024.

[3] See note 1

[4] U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India, “The United States and India Continue to Expand Comprehensive and Global Strategic Partnership”, The White House, 2024.

[5] The White House, “The Wilmington Declaration Joint Statement from the Leaders of Australia, India, Japan, and the United States”, The White House 21 September 2024.

[6] Joint Fact Sheet, “The United States and India Continue to Expand Comprehensive and Global Strategic Partnership”, U.S. Embassy & Consulates in India, 2024.

[7] See note 1

[8] See note 6

[9] Harsh V Pant, “PressReader.com - Digital Newspaper & Magazine Subscriptions”, 26 September 2024.

[10] See note 4

[11] See note 6

[12] The Hindu, “Our message is clear, Quad is here to stay: PM Modi at Leaders' Summit”, The Hindu, 22 September 2024.

[13] Dhruva Jaishankar, "PM Modi's US visit crucial for consolidating Quad progress”, Observer Research Foundation, 27 September 2024.

[14] See note 9

[15] The Economic Times Video, “Jaishankar's sharp response on India's BRICS & Quad membership: 'Can chew gum & walk at same time” The Economic Times, 26 September 2024.

[16]  Tanvi Madan,”Brookings”, 2024.