Highlights of the 6th Quad Summit

Introduction and Background 

* Quad, also known as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, is an international diplomatic partnership between Australia, India, Japan, and the U.S. 

* It largely focuses on maintaining and promoting stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.

* Recently, the 6th Quad Summit was held in-person in Delaware, U.S.

 

About the Quad Summit 

* The Quad Summit convenes to address regional challenges such as health security, climate change, infrastructure, technology, cybersecurity, among others.

* It aims to create an open, stable and resilient environment in the Indo-Pacific region.

 

Key Highlights of the 6th Quad Summit

Health Security:

* The Quad Health Security Partnership (QHSP) was launched for enhanced health security in the Indo-Pacific.

* Various initiatives were announced, including the Quad Cancer Moonshot, for cervical cancer treatment.

* The U.S. pledged over $84.5million towards pandemic preparedness in 14 Indo-Pacific countries.

 

Maritime Security:

* Several initiatives, such as MAITRI and IPMDA, were introduced for enhanced maritime security and monitoring.

* The first-ever Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission is scheduled for 2025.

 

Infrastructure Development:

* The Quad set up principles for secure and inclusive digital public infrastructure development.

* Commitment towards infrastructural development, like undersea cables and funding for regional ports.

 

Emerging Technology:

* Initiatives like Open RAN, AI-ENGAGE and BioExplore were launched to harness technology for telecommunications and agriculture.

* Collaboration in addressing semiconductor supply chain risks was facilitated.

 

Climate and Clean Energy:

* The U.S., Australia, and Japan pledged to enhance regional disaster risk reduction efforts. 

* India committed to invest USD 2 million in new solar projects in Fiji, Comoros, Madagascar, and Seychelles.

 

Cybersecurity:

* A Quad Action Plan was developed to protect undersea telecommunications cables and foster a resilient information environment.

 

Space:

* Quad countries decided to share expertise for promoting long-term sustainability of the space environment.

 

Counter Terrorism:

* Counter-terrorism threats were discussed with the focus on mitigating them through strategic messaging and information sharing.

 

People-to-People Initiatives:

* India announced an initiative to award fifty Quad Scholarships to students from the Indo-Pacific region.

 

About the Original Quad Formation 

* The Quad originated in 2004 during the Indian Ocean tsunami where the four nations provided humanitarian assistance.

* It was formally established in 2007 and after a brief period of dormancy, was revived in 2017.

 

Expansion Potential of Quad

* The recent “Quad-plus” meetings included South Korea, New Zealand, and Vietnam, indicating a potential for future expansion.

* The ambitious projects of the Quad primarily aim to enhance security and resilience in the Indo-Pacific region.