The Quad, or "Quadrilateral Security Dialogue" (QSD), is an informal strategic group made up of the United States of America (USA), India, Australia, and Japan. An important goal of the Quad is to promote an Indo-Pacific area that is free, open, economic, and inclusive. During the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in 2007, the group assembled for the first time (ASEAN). A group of maritime democracies are thought to be involved. Meetings, semi-annual summits, information exchanges, and joint military exercises among all the member nations all contribute to the maintenance of the forum.
Its origins can be attributed to Project of Malabar's development and the 2004 Tsunami, when India led relief and rescue efforts for itself and its neighbors before being joined by the US, Japan, and Australia. China sent official diplomatic protests to the Quad members, indicating that it felt threatened. Then, in 2008, Australia left the forum, supposedly as a result of political pressure from the Chinese government and in response to the escalating conflict between the US and China in the Asia-Pacific. However, Australia returned to the Quad's naval exercises in 2010 and the US and Australia restored their expanded military cooperation.
The forum is thought to represent China's military and economic rise's strategic counter. India can enlist the assistance of the other Quad countries to combat Chinese hostilities if they increase along its borders because it is a member of the Quad. India may also conduct strategic research in the Indo-Pacific area with the aid of its naval front.
Even if the Quad does not exist purely to oppose China or its influence, the aggression and coerciveness with which China attempts to enforce its claims is undoubtedly a frequent topic of conversation with all of India's allies and partners as well as inside the Quad. The Quad arrangement allows India the chance to collaborate on a variety of multilateral projects that can contribute to the development of an open and democratic Indo-Pacific region.
Another problem for India is that any formal association of democracies through the Quad would give rise to expectations that it will be a strong advocate for advancing democracy overseas. Yet India, which has always abstained from promoting democracy and democratic ideals in its foreign policy, will find that offensive.
It is important that India be recognized as a major defence partner because it will increase defence trade and technology collaboration with India to a level comparable to that with our nearest allies and partners. This year, India secured a military logistics deal with the United States after a decade of battle, but two other agreements are frozen. India sends its Sukhoi planes, which it purchased from Russia, to the exercises, but its radars and jammers are disabled.
In the post-COVID-19 world order, the Quad is in fact becoming one of the most important international forums dedicated to a strengthened security collaboration. An active Quad also helps eliminate the long-held notion that the Indo-Pacific region is essentially inactive. Each of the Quad's four members must take on larger roles in balancing the dangers and power struggles in the Indo-Pacific because the stakes are higher than ever. China would undoubtedly become uneasy if the Quad emerges as a united front that supports a free and open Indo-Pacific.
References
Fact Sheet: Quad Leaders’ Summit. (2021, September 24). The White House. Retrieved March 31, 2023, from https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/09/24/fact-sheet-quad-leaders-summit/
Howard, C., Pathak, A., & Zakir, M. (2021, October 13). The Quad, AUKUS, and India's Dilemmas. Council on Foreign Relations. Retrieved March 31, 2023, from https://www.cfr.org/article/quad-aukus-and-indias-dilemmas
Jash, A. (2021, March 8). The Quad Factor in the Indo-Pacific and the Role of India. Air University. Retrieved March 31, 2023, from https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/JIPA/Display/Article/2528182/the-quad-factor-in-the-indo-pacific-and-the-role-of-india/
Miglani, S. (2017, November 22). Indian navy the odd man out in Asia's 'Quad' alliance. Reuters. Retrieved March 31, 2023, from https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-usa-quad-idUSKBN1DM0UB
The Rise and Rise of the 'Quad': Setting an Agenda for India | ORF. (2021, September 23). Observer Research Foundation. Retrieved March 31, 2023, from https://www.orfonline.org/research/the-rise-and-rise-of-the-quad-setting-an-agenda-for-india/
Deshpande, P. P. (2021, November 2). Quad & its significance for India. Times of India. Retrieved March 31, 2023, from https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/truth-lies-and-politics/quad-its-significance-for-india/