The Quad (US, Japan, India, Australia Security Dialogue) : Updates and Discussions
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The RCEP has just been signed & comes into effect. I wonder how does what mentioned above square off against the RCEP.
Any cooperation via QUAD may not be based on the traditional definition of an alliance.
But with CDS Rawat speaking about QUAD in a positive manner, and by specifying "freedom of navigation" in particular, some sort of very deep cooperation is likely on the anvil between all 4 countries within the naval domain. But I don't see it happening in the mainland in India.
The QUAD can extend to other traditional American allies of course. Both in Asia and Europe. But what will be more interesting is if Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam join in. Freedom of navigation exercises will require the participation of all stakeholders.
Isolating China has become very important now.
But with CDS Rawat speaking about QUAD in a positive manner, and by specifying "freedom of navigation" in particular, some sort of very deep cooperation is likely on the anvil between all 4 countries within the naval domain. But I don't see it happening in the mainland in India.
The QUAD can extend to other traditional American allies of course. Both in Asia and Europe. But what will be more interesting is if Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam join in. Freedom of navigation exercises will require the participation of all stakeholders.
Isolating China has become very important now.
Strategic Paris-Delhi-Canberra axis gets off to a flying start amid China tension
French President Macron was among the first to call for the strategic alliance to respond to challenges in the Asia-Pacific region and the growing assertiveness of China
Updated: Sep 09, 2020 22:39 IST
By Shishir Gupta
Hindustan Times, New Delhi
India, France and Australia on Wednesday jump started a new strategic alliance proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron two years ago with the first meeting of top foreign ministry officials of the three countries. Maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region got the top billing at Wednesday’s meeting held over video conference.
The officials spoke about “enhancing maritime security cooperation” including maritime domain awareness, mutual logistics support and capacity building of other friendly countries in the Indo-Pacific region, people familiar with the matter said. There was broad agreement among the three partners that they should look at a multi-polar world where countries join hands for mutual benefit and support rather than a unipolar or multipolar world.
China did figure in the discussions but the meeting wasn’t focussed on one country. It took an overarching view, one Indian official later told Hindustan Times. The virtual meeting was co-chaired by foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, secretary-general in French ministry for Europe and foreign affairs François Delattre and secretary in Australian department of foreign affairs Frances Adamson.
French President Macron was among the first to call for building a strategic alliance between the three countries that could respond to challenges in the Asia-Pacific region and the growing assertiveness of China. On a visit to Australia before he flew down to India back in May 2018, President Macron had spoken about the need for the partners to ‘organise’ themselves. “We’re not naive: if we want to be seen and respected by China as an equal partner, we must organize ourselves,” President Macron said in a speech at an Australian naval base. “This new Paris-Delhi-Canberra axis is absolutely key for the region and our joint objectives in the Indian-Pacific region,” he said, according to a 2018 Reuters report.
On the India leg of his trip, President Macron and Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a blueprint to step up cooperation in the Indian Ocean to counter China’s growing influence in the region. “The Indian Ocean, like the Pacific Ocean, cannot become a place of hegemony,” President Macron said as the two countries signed pacts that gave Indian warships access to French naval bases in the Indian Ocean.
At Wednesday’s meeting, Indian foreign secretary Shringla underscored PM Modi’s vision for the Indo-Pacific that he had articulated at the Shangri-La Dialogue in 2018 to promote the concept of Security and Growth for All in the Region or SAGAR.
The three countries also discussed cooperation on marine global commons – blue economy, marine biodiversity and environmental challenges such as marine pollution. Shringla spoke about India’s interest in collaborating on sustainable fisheries in the Indian Ocean, technologies for harvesting of Deep Ocean Resources and Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion.
www.hindustantimes.com
French President Macron was among the first to call for the strategic alliance to respond to challenges in the Asia-Pacific region and the growing assertiveness of China
Updated: Sep 09, 2020 22:39 IST
By Shishir Gupta
Hindustan Times, New Delhi
ON THE TRILATERAL TABLE
- MARITIME SECURITY COOPERATION
- Explore trilateral cooperation in mutual logistics support
- Consider greater operational coordination towards maritime security
- Collaborate to set up a pan Indian Ocean Region- Search and Rescue mechanism
- Join hands in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief
- PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH
- Collaborate on therapeutics and vaccine for COVID-19
- BLUE ECONOMY
- Blue Economy initiatives such as hydrography, meteorology and oceanography, and marine medicine
- Environmental Challenges- marine pollution, etc.
- Collaborate on identifying, monitoring and reducing pollution sources
- INTERNATIONAL SOLAR ALLIANCE
- Promote solar-energy based solutions in countries of the region
India, France and Australia on Wednesday jump started a new strategic alliance proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron two years ago with the first meeting of top foreign ministry officials of the three countries. Maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region got the top billing at Wednesday’s meeting held over video conference.
The officials spoke about “enhancing maritime security cooperation” including maritime domain awareness, mutual logistics support and capacity building of other friendly countries in the Indo-Pacific region, people familiar with the matter said. There was broad agreement among the three partners that they should look at a multi-polar world where countries join hands for mutual benefit and support rather than a unipolar or multipolar world.
China did figure in the discussions but the meeting wasn’t focussed on one country. It took an overarching view, one Indian official later told Hindustan Times. The virtual meeting was co-chaired by foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, secretary-general in French ministry for Europe and foreign affairs François Delattre and secretary in Australian department of foreign affairs Frances Adamson.
French President Macron was among the first to call for building a strategic alliance between the three countries that could respond to challenges in the Asia-Pacific region and the growing assertiveness of China. On a visit to Australia before he flew down to India back in May 2018, President Macron had spoken about the need for the partners to ‘organise’ themselves. “We’re not naive: if we want to be seen and respected by China as an equal partner, we must organize ourselves,” President Macron said in a speech at an Australian naval base. “This new Paris-Delhi-Canberra axis is absolutely key for the region and our joint objectives in the Indian-Pacific region,” he said, according to a 2018 Reuters report.
On the India leg of his trip, President Macron and Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a blueprint to step up cooperation in the Indian Ocean to counter China’s growing influence in the region. “The Indian Ocean, like the Pacific Ocean, cannot become a place of hegemony,” President Macron said as the two countries signed pacts that gave Indian warships access to French naval bases in the Indian Ocean.
At Wednesday’s meeting, Indian foreign secretary Shringla underscored PM Modi’s vision for the Indo-Pacific that he had articulated at the Shangri-La Dialogue in 2018 to promote the concept of Security and Growth for All in the Region or SAGAR.
The three countries also discussed cooperation on marine global commons – blue economy, marine biodiversity and environmental challenges such as marine pollution. Shringla spoke about India’s interest in collaborating on sustainable fisheries in the Indian Ocean, technologies for harvesting of Deep Ocean Resources and Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion.
Strategic Paris-Delhi-Canberra axis gets off to a flying start amid China tension
French President Macron was among the first to call for the strategic alliance to respond to challenges in the Asia-Pacific region and the growing assertiveness of China
US, India to strengthen relations through quad consultations with Japan & Australia
US, India to strengthen relations through quad consultations with Japan & Australia
www.republicworld.com
More agreements incoming :
India in talks for logistics pacts with Russia, U.K. and Vietnam
Agreement gives access to Moscow’s facilities in Arctic region which is seeing increased global activity
The Australia–India Strategic Partnership: Accelerating Security Cooperation in the Indo–Pacific
Shared concerns about China's rise have propelled Australia and India to deepen their security ties
www.lowyinstitute.org
Amid China’s actions across Indo-Pacific, 2nd Quad meeting slated to be held in Tokyo in Oct
The second ministerial meeting of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue or Quad is expected to be held in Tokyo early next month, people familiar with developments said, with the meet coming against the backdrop of China’s aggressive actions across the Indo-Pacific.
The meet will be held at a time when all four members of the Quad have serious differences with China – India is engaged in a border standoff in Ladakh, the Australian government has pledged to halt projects under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Japan is worried about Chinese intrusions near the Senkaku Islands, and the US is engaged in a trade war.
There has been no official word on the Quad meeting, with the external affairs ministry only saying the four sides were in talks to decide the venue and timing. The people cited above said the meeting is expected to be held in the Japanese capital in early October.
The members of the Quad, especially India, Japan and Australia, have also stepped up work on forging partnerships with like-minded countries in the region, or those with interests in the Indian Ocean, with an eye on China’s increasing assertiveness and aggressiveness.
External affairs minister S Jaishankar said last week India and Japan were looking at cooperating on projects in Bangladesh and Myanmar as part of their efforts to work together in third countries.
India, Australia and France held their inaugural senior officials’ trilateral dialogue, with the focus on building convergences in the Indo-Pacific, on September 9, the same day that India and Japan signed the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA), a pact for reciprocal provision of supplies and services between their defence forces.
China has eyed the Quad, which was revived in 2017, with suspicion, especially after the grouping was upgraded to the ministerial level in September last year.
The upcoming Quad meeting will also be the first such high-level meet to be held in Tokyo since March, when the Covid-19 pandemic stopped virtually all travel by top government functionaries. Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had played a key role in the revival of the Quad and the holding of the meeting in Tokyo is expected to signal that his successor Yoshihide Suga is expected to continue with similar security and diplomatic policies, the people cited above said.
Senior officials of the Quad countries have held several virtual meetings during the pandemic to share experiences and coordinate on efforts to counter the Coronavirus.
m.hindustantimes.com
The second ministerial meeting of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue or Quad is expected to be held in Tokyo early next month, people familiar with developments said, with the meet coming against the backdrop of China’s aggressive actions across the Indo-Pacific.
The meet will be held at a time when all four members of the Quad have serious differences with China – India is engaged in a border standoff in Ladakh, the Australian government has pledged to halt projects under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Japan is worried about Chinese intrusions near the Senkaku Islands, and the US is engaged in a trade war.
There has been no official word on the Quad meeting, with the external affairs ministry only saying the four sides were in talks to decide the venue and timing. The people cited above said the meeting is expected to be held in the Japanese capital in early October.
The members of the Quad, especially India, Japan and Australia, have also stepped up work on forging partnerships with like-minded countries in the region, or those with interests in the Indian Ocean, with an eye on China’s increasing assertiveness and aggressiveness.
External affairs minister S Jaishankar said last week India and Japan were looking at cooperating on projects in Bangladesh and Myanmar as part of their efforts to work together in third countries.
India, Australia and France held their inaugural senior officials’ trilateral dialogue, with the focus on building convergences in the Indo-Pacific, on September 9, the same day that India and Japan signed the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA), a pact for reciprocal provision of supplies and services between their defence forces.
China has eyed the Quad, which was revived in 2017, with suspicion, especially after the grouping was upgraded to the ministerial level in September last year.
The upcoming Quad meeting will also be the first such high-level meet to be held in Tokyo since March, when the Covid-19 pandemic stopped virtually all travel by top government functionaries. Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had played a key role in the revival of the Quad and the holding of the meeting in Tokyo is expected to signal that his successor Yoshihide Suga is expected to continue with similar security and diplomatic policies, the people cited above said.
Senior officials of the Quad countries have held several virtual meetings during the pandemic to share experiences and coordinate on efforts to counter the Coronavirus.
Amid China’s actions across Indo-Pacific, 2nd Quad meeting slated to be held in Tokyo in Oct
The members of the Quad, especially India, Japan and Australia, have also stepped up work on forging partnerships with like-minded countries in the region, or those with interests in the Indian Ocean, with an eye on China’s increasing assertiveness and aggressiveness.
QUAD meeting in NATO, that's quite a heck of signalling and to show to what end this could/will go forward in near future.
@Gautam I was thinking of another possibility, what happens if NATO is globalised with significant changes in its role, charter and structure? Logically, based on past trends it will most certainly include QUAD partners, even if it is too early to say such a possibility with a certain degree of certainty. Thank you.
@Gautam I was thinking of another possibility, what happens if NATO is globalised with significant changes in its role, charter and structure? Logically, based on past trends it will most certainly include QUAD partners, even if it is too early to say such a possibility with a certain degree of certainty. Thank you.
Remember when Ashton Carter was the US Secretary of Defence & Manohar Parikar was our RM. There was a proposal pushed by Carter for joint collaboration on BMD missiles, that went nowhere because we had our own BMD program. There was also meetings with the NATO where Carter pushed for India's inclusion in the non-NATO allies nation list, but Pakistan is already there and India didn't want it. Carter even pushed for a different title for India, which met resistance from the other NATO nations.
The point is the Americans have been pushing for Globalisation of the NATO, much to the dis-comfort of the European, for a while. It's unlikely that after Carter the Americans just gave up on that idea. With China's recent "wolf warrior" diplomacy with the Europeans, their resistance to India's inclusion have reduced substantially. Also part of the reason is India holding her own on the LAC against the Chinese. Indian resistance to NATO or any other alliance has also reduced over the years. This is ideal time for the Americans to push of the idea again. Immediate gains are symbolic, but if it sticks the benefits are immense.
Remember of all the nations in the QUAD, Indian is the only on without a formal alliance. It benefits us greatly in this situation. Also from their POV, of all the recent applicants to the NATO, India is by far the most powerful one. I don't know if its an idea whose time has come. But it is most certainly an idea that is gaining ground in many capitals in the recent years. Just my two cents.
Few corrections on the timeline, BMD collaboration was offered much before NDA 2 came to power and subsequently rejected as per reporting (some say as early as NDA 1). Offer had came from not only US but NATO as well, there are some statements on record as well but difficult to mining. There are some information, not so much in public domain, like India's investment, upwards of 100 millions, in US Israeli defence ventures including Arrow missile defence system. However DRDO was of the view that we are within grasp of understanding & launching the first model within 2-3 years on its own, hence reluctance to join collaborative efforts. India was even offered the partnership for peace program as well with NATO, and that I am talking about at least 15 years back timeline. Thank you.