The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), a strategic alliance of Australia, India, Japan, and the United States, is marking 20 years of cooperation.
Established in response to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, the Quad has evolved into a significant platform supporting an open, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
In a joint statement to mark the milestone, the Quad Foreign Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to ASEAN's centrality and unity, emphasizing the grouping's continued dedication to addressing regional challenges.
"Twenty years ago, in response to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, our nations came together to support millions of people affected by one of the worst disasters in history. We honor the memories of those lost and recognize the survivors," the statement read.
It said that more than 40,000 emergency responders from the four countries cooperated to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, a commitment that remains integral to the Quad's mission.
"Our foundational commitment to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief remains strong. We continue to work side-by-side to prepare for and respond quickly and effectively to disasters across the region," the statement reads further.
The Quad has expanded its work to address the most difficult regional and global challenges over time. Recent efforts include action against climate change, improvement in maritime domain awareness, development of STEM education, terrorism, and cybersecurity.
"What started as an ad-hoc response has become a full-fledged partnership with positive outcomes for the region. Our nations are now working with partners throughout the Indo-Pacific to tackle a wide range of challenges," the statement added.
"Since 2021, the Leaders of our four nations have met annually to drive the Quad's positive contributions across South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific," it read.
"As four partners, we share a vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific that is peaceful, stable, and prosperous, underpinned by effective regional institutions. We reaffirm our unwavering support for ASEAN's centrality and unity as well as the mainstreaming and implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. We respect Pacific-led regional architecture, foremost the Pacific Islands Forum. We are also steadfast in our support for the Indian Ocean Rim Association, the region's premier organisation," the statement added.
"It reaffirms our commitment to continue working together in addressing future needs of the region," it added.
During the Quad 2024 summits, members of this grouping announced several initiatives pertaining to maritime security. Major highlights included the announcement to launch Maritime Initiative for Training in the Indo-Pacific or MAITRI that could help regional partners to watch and secure their waters, and India is likely to host the first-ever MAITRI workshop in 2025.
The Quad further launched a logistics network pilot project that aims to enhance the collective airlift capacities that would help respond to civilian natural disasters in a much more efficient way. Additionally, a maritime legal dialogue was launched to uphold the rules-based maritime order in the Indo-Pacific.
The Wellington Declaration, issued after the fourth in-person summit of the Quad earlier this year, expressed concerns over "recent dangerous and aggressive actions in the maritime domain," a pointed reference to China's activities in the South China Sea.
Other key announcements made this year included the Quad Cancer Moonshot, which began by targeting cervical cancer. India committed US$7.5 million in testing kits and technical assistance; other member states pledged to commit their resources.
The Quad reaffirmed its strong support for ASEAN centrality, the Pacific Islands Forum, and the Indian Ocean Rim Association, citing them as pillars in sustaining regional stability and prosperity.
"As four partners, we share a vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific that is peaceful, stable, and prosperous. We remain committed to addressing the region's future needs," the statement concluded.
The Quad has a 20-year legacy of cooperation that continues to shape the Indo-Pacific's geopolitical and economic landscape.
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