Thanks to India’s leadership, says White House as Quad expands joint maritime security cooperation to Indian Ocean
Leaders from the United States, Australia, India, and Japan are set to announce significant expansions in maritime security operations during the Quad Summit this Saturday. The White House confirmed that the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA) initiative will broaden its scope from Southeast Asia to the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), a move aimed at countering China’s growing influence in the area.
The IPMDA, originally launched at the Quad Leaders Summit in Tokyo two years ago, focuses on monitoring illegal activities at sea, including illegal fishing. A senior Biden administration official credited India’s leadership for facilitating this expansion, which will enhance surveillance capabilities in waters increasingly affected by unlawful activities.
“This initiative will incorporate advanced technologies and provide new training programs for our partners to effectively utilize these resources,” the official stated, emphasizing the collaborative effort to bolster maritime security across the region.
The summit aims to demonstrate a united front among the Quad partners, showcasing their strategic alignment and commitment to supporting the Indo-Pacific. “The Quad is here to stay,” asserted a U.S. administration official, highlighting the coalition’s enduring significance.
In a notable development, coastguard personnel from the four nations will begin sharing resources and personnel aboard their vessels, enhancing operational coordination. This initiative marks the first instance of U.S. Coast Guard vessels hosting counterparts from Japan, Australia, and India, promoting deeper collaboration on maritime safety.
Ahead of the summit, a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers announced the formation of a caucus to support the Quad, reinforcing congressional backing for the partnership’s objectives in the Indo-Pacific.
Additionally, the summit is expected to spotlight President Biden’s “Cancer Moonshot” initiative, focusing on collaborative efforts among Quad nations to combat cervical cancer through improved vaccines and treatment access.
This gathering marks a historic moment as it is the first time President Biden has invited foreign leaders to his home in Wilmington, underscoring the strong relationships he has fostered with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
The summit will also see a shift in future hosting responsibilities; India, originally set to host this year, will now lead the next summit in 2025, a change attributed to scheduling conflicts with the UN General Assembly.
As tensions continue in the East and South China Seas, the leaders’ discussions are anticipated to include stronger language regarding regional security concerns. This summit represents the sixth meeting of the Quad leaders since Biden elevated the group to the leader level in 2021, and it is likely to be his final Quad summit as president.
With this significant meeting, the Biden administration aims to project a robust alliance with Indo-Pacific partners amid ongoing geopolitical challenges.
