Quad Summit in Delaware: Strengthening Maritime Security Against Rising Chinese Influence

The Quad Summit in Delaware will announce an expansion of joint maritime security operations in the Indian Ocean, enhancing cooperation among the US, Australia, India, and Japan. This move aims to monitor illegal activities and counter China's growing influence in the region.

The Quad Summit, held in Delaware on Saturday, is set to unveil an enhanced strategy for joint maritime security operations in the Indian Ocean and increased coastguard synchronization across the Indo-Pacific, officials announced today.

Key leaders from the United States, Australia, India, and Japan are poised to extend the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA) beyond Southeast Asia to encompass the Indian Ocean Region. Launched two years ago at the Quad Leaders Summit in Tokyo, the initiative seeks to curb illegal maritime activities. The White House acknowledged India's leadership in these efforts, highlighting the program's role in monitoring areas where China's influence is expanding.

The initiative will leverage advanced technologies and provide comprehensive training programs to enhance maritime monitoring capabilities for partner nations. Senior Biden administration officials emphasized the Quad's commitment to delivering public goods for the Indo-Pacific and affirmed its enduring presence. Additionally, Japanese, Australian, and Indian coastguard personnel will undertake joint missions aboard US vessels, marking a new phase of cooperation. As US President Joe Biden hosts the summit, the focus remains on reinforcing alliances amid rising Chinese assertiveness. The event also underscores bipartisan support in the US Congress for the Quad and features significant health initiatives like the Cancer Moonshot, highlighting the member countries' collaborative efforts to combat cervical cancer.

(With inputs from agencies.)