First Quad Leaders’ Virtual Summit- Highlights

Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi will participate in the first Leaders’ Summit of the Quadrilateral Framework along with the Prime Minister of Australia, Scott Morrison; Prime Minister of Japan, Yoshihide Suga and President of United States of America, Joseph R. Biden. The summit will take place virtually on March 12, 2021.

Highlights

The QUAD Leaders will discuss the regional and global issues which are of shared interest. They will also exchange their views on several practical areas of the cooperation to maintain a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region. The virtual summit will also provide the countries an opportunity to exchange their views on the contemporary challenges like resilient supply chains, maritime security, climate change and emerging & critical technologies.
Leaders will also discuss the ongoing efforts to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. They would also explore the opportunities to collaborate so as to ensure a safe, equitable and affordable vaccines in Indo-Pacific region.

Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD)

QUAD is also known as the Asian NATO. It is an informal strategic forum comprising of India, United States, Japan, and Australia. The forum is maintained by semi-regular summits, military drills and information between member countries.

Background

This forum was initiated in August 2007 by the then Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe with the support of Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh; Vice President of US, Dick Cheney and Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard. This diplomatic and military arrangement is taken as a response to increasing Chinese economic and military power.

Quad Nations vs China

USA sees this grouping as an opportunity to regain its influence in the Indo-Pacific region in a counter to China’s increasing influence in the East Asia. Australia also shows concerns regarding China’s growing interest in the land, infrastructure, politics and universities in Australia. Japan expresses concerns with respect to China’s territorial transgression in the south China Sea and Indo-Pacific region. China continuously violates the international norms by constructing military facilities on reclaimed islands in South China Sea pose strategic challenges to India.

Month: Current Affairs - March, 2021