The Quad - a four-member bloc comprising the US, Japan, India, and Australia - said it was committed to strengthening cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region. The Wilmington Declaration that followed the Quad leaders meeting- US President Joe Biden, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida-at Delaware acknowledged India's leadership in finalizing IORA Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (IOIP) and progressed in implementing it.
Quad agreed to observe the 'Maritime Initiative for Training in the Indo-Pacific with respect to surveillance and security of waters, rule of law, and prevention of illegitimate activities. With the motive to reduce death toll in Indo-Pacific region due to cancer, the coalition initiated a 'Quad Cancer Moonshot, with an initial focus on cervical cancer.
The two leaders publicly announced the Quad Ports of the Future Partnership, as part of a joint statement they issued to press their support toward sustainable and resilient port infrastructure development across the Indo-Pacific. Against the coercive and intimidating manoeuvres in South China Sea, Quad stood for the international order based on the rule of law, particularly as reflected in UNCLOS, to address challenges to the global maritime rules-based order. The group declared: "United in commitment to an enduring and open international system with strong support for human rights, freedom, the rule of law, democratic values, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and peaceful settlement of disputes and prohibition on the threat or use of force in accordance with international law, including the UN Charter.
The leaders emphasized that the 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea is an important milestone and the foundation for peacefully resolving disputes between the parties. Praising the cooperation record on the COVID vaccine, the group said that it will focus initially on combating cervical cancer in the Indo-Pacific region. On humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), the declaration said the Quad governments preposition essential relief supplies for the rapid HADR response.
After natural disasters in Indo-Pacific, the group agreed on undertaking a pilot project to explore cooperation in airlift operations between the Quad countries. In this regard, all four leaders agreed to set up the Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission in 2025 that would be a vehicle for the sharing of knowledge and experience. The group agreed to increase cooperation in the 5G and Open RAN areas with the Philippines and Tuvalu.
Read also| Quad Leaders to Adopt Firm Stance on North Korea and South China Sea, Says US Official
Read also| Quad Remains Committed to Maritime Security, Confirms US
