US President Joe Biden hosted the prime ministers of India, Australia and Japan for the fourth in-person Quad Leaders’ Summit in his hometown of Wilmington last week. This summit was considered crucial for several reasons. First, it was the last meeting attended by Biden, a key architect of the group’s institutionalization, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who played a crucial role in adding political weight to the forum. Secondly, 2024 marks the twentieth anniversary of the group’s founding. Third, and most importantly, the Wilmington Summit further consolidated the grouping by expanding key areas of cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. This summit has indeed succeeded in sending the message: ‘The Quad is here to stay’.
At a time when highly complex global crises are unfolding in different parts of the world, the Quad Leaders Summit took place in the context of critical challenges and vital opportunities. With ongoing wars in Europe and the Middle East, China’s belligerent activities in the Indo-Pacific region and emerging non-traditional security challenges in the region, the Quad’s task was looming. The Wilmington Declaration – the joint statement of the Quad leaders – amply addressed these critical questions.
The Wilmington Declaration
The joint statement by the leaders of the Quad grouping in Wilmington demonstrates continuity in the response to the war in Ukraine, reiterating the urgent need to end the conflict and uphold the spirit of international law keep. Similarly, this year’s statement expressed concern about North Korea’s ballistic missile launches and the need to prevent the proliferation of nuclear missiles and technologies. Furthermore, the Wilmington Declaration also focused on the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The group shared its concerns about the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and advocated for a sovereign, viable and independent state of Palestine, while remaining sensitive to Israel’s concerns. Apart from this, the statement further reiterated concerns over the deteriorating political and humanitarian situation in Myanmar, as well as Houthis attacks in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
However, China remained the big question for the Quad in the Indo-Pacific context. On the China issue, Quad’s response this year seems sharper than the previous years. Earlier, during the meeting of the Four Foreign Ministers, the group called out Beijing – albeit without naming it – for ignoring international law and acting unilaterally in the East and South China region Sea. Similarly, Quad leaders expressed concern over increasing militarization in disputed parts of the Indo-Pacific. In response to tensions in the region, the group condemned the use of coast guards and maritime militia ships, which serve as China’s tactic for coercive and intimidating maneuvers.
A whole series of announcements
Quad synergy in maritime safety and security in the Indo-Pacific has also received a crucial boost at this summit. A joint coast guard-level cooperation among the four Quad countries – Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission – proposed at the summit, aims to improve interoperability between the coast guard services of the four countries to enhance maritime security cooperation and promote security. Similarly, in response to the looming challenges posed by natural disasters and disasters in the Indo-Pacific, the grouping has announced the launch of the ‘Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network’, which aims to pursue shared airlift capabilities in an attempt to improve cooperation. the domain of humanitarian aid and disaster relief (HADR) activities.
In addition, Quad’s efforts to strengthen Maritime Domain Awareness through the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA) received a significant boost with Australia’s commitment to engage the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency to enhance cooperation, and by the grouping that launched a new Maritime Initiative for Training in the Indo-Pacific (MAITRI). This summit further consolidated regional partnerships through continued collaboration with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). Notably, the Quad Fellowship program has been expanded to include students from ASEAN countries, demonstrating that the grouping is engaging regional partners in promoting people-to-people ties.
The slew of announcements made at this year’s Quad Summit, and the resulting Wilmington Declaration, underscore the grouping’s continued promise and relevance. While Quad continues to respond to critical geopolitical challenges in the world – particularly in the Indo-Pacific – it has also demonstrated a robust positive agenda to leverage shared opportunities.
The Quad is here to stay, in its pursuit of a free and open Indo-Pacific – one that is inclusive and resilient.
(Harsh V Pant is vice president for studies at ORF. Sayantan Haldar works at the Maritime Initiative at ORF)
Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author