https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/quad-2025-security-focus-amid-trump-s-return


https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/quad-2025-security-focus-amid-trump-s-return

Quad Summit: Shaping the Indo-Pacific’s Strategic Future

The Quad Summit, involving India, the United States, Japan, and Australia, represents one of the
most significant developments in the Indo-Pacific region’s geopolitics. Originally conceived in 2007
and revived in 2017, the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) has gained momentum as the four
democracies seek to balance China’s growing assertiveness in the region.

The Quad Summit serves as a platform for leaders to discuss shared concerns such as maritime
security, supply chain resilience, climate change, technology cooperation, and regional stability. The
initiative is not a formal military alliance but a strategic partnership aimed at promoting a free, open,
and inclusive Indo-Pacific.

For India, participation in the Quad is crucial. It aligns with New Delhi’s vision of “Act East” and
strengthens its partnerships with like-minded democracies. The Quad also enhances India’s maritime
security in the Indian Ocean, where China’s presence has been expanding.

Key outcomes of recent Quad Summit include cooperation on COVID-19 vaccine distribution, joint
naval exercises like Malabar, and initiatives on emerging technologies such as 5G and cybersecurity.
By addressing both traditional and non-traditional security threats, the Quad demonstrates its
relevance beyond military dimensions.

Critics often portray the Quad as an “Asian NATO,” but member countries emphasize its inclusive
and non-military nature. Its primary goal is to ensure stability, prosperity, and freedom of navigation
in the Indo-Pacific. As geopolitical competition intensifies, the Quad Summit is set to play an even
more influential role in shaping the strategic architecture of the 21st century Indo-Pacific.