Quad’s Strategic Resilience

The recent Quad Summit, culminating in the Wilmington Declaration, has been hailed as a major success, underscoring the growing importance of this strategic regional grouping. By hosting the summit in his hometown of Delaware, just ahead of the U.S. presidential elections, President Joe Biden demonstrated his unwavering commitment to the Quad’s agenda. The timing of the event carries significant strategic meaning, highlighting the Quad’s importance as a cornerstone of U.S. grand strategy in the Indo-Pacific region.

The decision to hold the summit despite the proximity of the elections sends a clear signal that the Quad is not merely a temporary initiative but a long-term U.S. project. It reflects a strategic vision that transcends electoral cycles, ensuring continuity in Washington’s engagement with the Indo-Pacific, regardless of which administration takes office. This summit reinforces that the Quad is central to America's efforts to shape regional stability and security.

The event also highlights the bipartisan nature of the India-U.S. relationship and the sustained support this partnership receives from successive U.S. administrations. With President Biden’s term nearing its end, the Quad's continued focus signals that both major U.S. political parties view this partnership as essential to maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks at the summit added further depth to the Quad’s strategic intent. He emphasised that the Quad is "here to stay, to partner, and to complement.” His use of the word “complement” carries significant geopolitical meaning, suggesting that New Delhi does not view other regional groupings—such as AUKUS or the newly emerging SQUAD—as rivals to the Quad but as complementary frameworks. This statement addresses concerns voiced by geopolitical analysts and foreign policy experts who feared overlapping agendas might affect India’s involvement in the Quad. Modi’s comments sent a reassuring message that India’s engagement with the Quad will not be compromised by the formation of other strategic groupings in the Indo-Pacific region. 

Additionally, the Wilmington Declaration stands out for its strong language on regional stability, indirectly targeting China’s behaviour in the Indo-Pacific. The declaration asserts, “As four leading maritime democracies in the Indo-Pacific, we unequivocally support the maintenance of peace and stability in this dynamic region, as an essential component of global security and prosperity. We strongly oppose any destabilising or unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo through force or coercion,” delivering a clear and firm message against any attempts at regional domination. 

The joint QUAD declaration also added, “We seek a region in which no country dominates or is dominated—one in which all countries are free of coercion and have the ability to shape their own futures. We are united in our commitment to upholding a stable and open international system, with its strong support for human rights, the principle of freedom, rule of law, democratic values, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and peaceful settlement of disputes, as well as the prohibition on the threat or use of force in accordance with international law, including the UN Charter,” This diplomatic language reflects the unified resolve of the Quad members to prevent any single power from dominating the region and to uphold a rules-based order.

The Quad's reaffirmation of its commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific comes at a crucial time, underscoring the collective determination of member states—India, the United States, Japan, and Australia—to promote regional security, stability, and prosperity. With growing geopolitical challenges in the region, the Quad stands as a testament to the strength of multilateralism and strategic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

Imran Khurshid, Ph.D. from the University of Kashmir, specialising in India-US strategic relations in the Indo-Pacific region, foundational defense agreements, and Indo-Pacific studies.