QUAD Nations Launch First-Ever ‘At Sea Observer Mission’ to Boost Maritime Cooperation

The Wilmington Declaration has marked the first-ever At Sea Ship Observer Mission of the QUAD countries India, the US, Japan and Australia. Each of the two countries has sent two officers, of whom may be women, on board the USCGC Stratton, which is on a voyage to Guam. This is boosting maritime security and interoperability between the Indo-Pacific. It combines with SAGAR vision and the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) according to India. The mission establishes a basis of greater cooperation at the coast guard level.

Context

• With the increase of the problems in the maritime field, QUAD countries have stepped up the collaboration even more by launching a cross-embarkation program that will enhance domain awareness, interoperability and trust among the Indo-Pacific.

Key Highlights

What is QUAD At Sea Observer Mission?

• An Indo-Pacific Maritime Initiative in which maritime officers of the QUAD nations serve on cross-deployment rotations aboard the USCGC Stratton in co-training and operational responses.

Purpose:

• Improve maritime domain awareness and maritime security
• Enhance operational preparedness and inter-agency response Enhance operational preparedness and inter-agency response
• Strengthen a Free, Open, Inclusive and a Rules-Based Indo Pacific

Strategic relevance

• Gives SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) support
• Stays in unison with Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) to develop regional capacity building and humanitarian undertakings

Outcomes Expected:

• Increased levels of trust between the maritime agencies
• Operational interoperability
• Improved countering transnational maritime threat Issues

What is QUAD?

• Short Form:QSD
• Members: Australia, Japan, India, the US
• First Proposed: 2007 Japanese PM Shinzo Abe
• Restored: 2017 as the answer to the increased influence of China in the region
• Objective: advocate free and open and prosperous Indo-Pacific, particularly through free maritime trade and the open global order

QUAD opportunity to India

Countering China

• Takes advantage of the Indian maritime geography to rival Chinese hegemony of the waters around existing sea trading routes.
• During the period of tensions on the borders, India can coordinate its collaboration with QUAD countries to paralyze the maritime trade of China.
• The maritime strategy can counter the continental problems coming out of China-Pakistan collusion.

The Business of Net Security Provider

• India is located between the East and West central Indo-Pacific region which makes it important to the stability of the region.
• Has the capability to lead HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief), anti-piracy and maritime surveillance.
• Advances India vision of SAGAR (Security and Growth to All in the Region).
• Facilitates infrastructure development and capacity building in at risk island states.

Issues and Challenges

• Lack of Strategic Vision: QUAD has no long-term vision or specific institutional procedures.
• Maritime-Centric: The Maritime focus on the Indo-Pacific can shut out the possibilities of land-based threats or Eurasian issues.
• Non-Alignment Policy of India: India is reluctant to join in formal alliances and lowers the growth of military or strategic QUAD.

Way Forward

• Respond to Indo-Pacific Vision: Create a more extensive and accommodating system that is beneficial to mutual economic and security concerns.
• Widen Membership: Widening membership to like-minded countries such as Indonesia and Singapore has also been proposed to make membership big enough to forge a cooperative platform.
• Create a Coherent Plan: India must come up with a coherent Indo-Pacific strategy that covers not only military features but also non-military, which would include trade, security, digital infrastructure, and environmental problems

Conclusion

This mega maritime program is the first of its kind by QUAD, and it further demonstrates its interests in promoting the peace and maritime rule of law in the region making it an independent force in securing the Indo-Pacific