The Quad , a four-member group consisting of the United States, Japan, India, and Australia, has issued a joint declaration following a meeting of its leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that the alliance is more strategically aligned than ever before and serves as a force for good.
The summit, hosted by US President Joe Biden in Wilmington, Delaware, was attended by Prime Minister Modi, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
"Four years since elevating the Quad to a leader-level format, the Quad is more strategically aligned than ever before and is a force for good that delivers real, positive, and enduring impact for the Indo-Pacific," said the Wilmington Declaration .
"We celebrate the fact that over just four years, Quad countries have built a vital and enduring regional grouping that will buttress the Indo-Pacific for decades to come," the declaration said.
The Wilmington Declaration, released after the fourth in-person Quad Summit , emphasised the group's commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region , which is crucial for global security and prosperity. The declaration also strongly opposed any destabilising or unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion, indirectly referring to China's territorial disputes in the South China Sea and East China Sea.
"As four leading maritime democracies in the Indo-Pacific, we unequivocally stand for the maintenance of peace and stability across this dynamic region, as an indispensable element of global security and prosperity," it said
"We condemn recent illicit missile launches in the region that violate UN Security Council resolutions. We express serious concern over recent dangerous and aggressive actions in the maritime domain. We seek a region where no country dominates and no country is dominated-one where all countries are free from coercion, and can exercise their agency to determine their futures," the declaration added.
The Quad leaders announced several initiatives, including the Quad Cancer Moonshot , a partnership aimed at saving lives in the Indo-Pacific region by combating cervical cancer and laying the groundwork for addressing other forms of cancer. India committed to providing HPV sampling kits, detection kits, and cervical cancer vaccines worth USD 7.5 million to the region, with Prime Minister Modi asserting that the grant was made under India's vision of 'One Earth, One Heath'.
"Building on the Quad's successful partnership during the COVID-19 pandemic, our collective investments to address cancer in the region, our scientific and medical capabilities, and contributions from our private and non-profit sectors, we will collaborate with partner nations to reduce the burden of cancer in the region," it said.
The QUAD nations also announced the Maritime Initiative for Training in the Indo-Pacific (MAITRI) to enable partners in the region to monitor and secure their waters, enforce laws, and deter unlawful behaviour. Additionally, they launched the Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network pilot project to pursue shared airlift capacity and support civilian response to natural disasters more efficiently across the region.
"We look forward to India hosting the inaugural MAITRI workshop in 2025. Furthermore, we welcome the launch of a Quad maritime legal dialogue to support efforts to uphold the rules-based maritime order in the Indo-Pacific. In addition, Quad partners intend to layer new technology and data into IPMDA over the coming year to continue to deliver cutting edge capability and information to the region," the declaration said.
The Quad Ports of the Future Partnership was also announced, which aims to support sustainable and resilient port infrastructure development across the Indo-Pacific in collaboration with regional partners. The four countries plan to hold a Quad Regional Ports and Transportation Conference, hosted by India in Mumbai, to coordinate, exchange information, and share best practices with partners in the region.
"Through this new partnership, Quad partners intend to coordinate, exchange information, share best practices with partners in the region, and leverage resources to mobilise government and private sector investments in quality port infrastructure across the Indo-Pacific region," the joint statement said.
The Quad Leaders' Summit, originally planned to be held in India, was moved to President Biden's hometown at his request. The Quad, formed in 2017, advocates for a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific, while China claims that the grouping aims to contain its rise.
The summit, hosted by US President Joe Biden in Wilmington, Delaware, was attended by Prime Minister Modi, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
"Four years since elevating the Quad to a leader-level format, the Quad is more strategically aligned than ever before and is a force for good that delivers real, positive, and enduring impact for the Indo-Pacific," said the Wilmington Declaration .
"We celebrate the fact that over just four years, Quad countries have built a vital and enduring regional grouping that will buttress the Indo-Pacific for decades to come," the declaration said.
The Wilmington Declaration, released after the fourth in-person Quad Summit , emphasised the group's commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region , which is crucial for global security and prosperity. The declaration also strongly opposed any destabilising or unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion, indirectly referring to China's territorial disputes in the South China Sea and East China Sea.
"As four leading maritime democracies in the Indo-Pacific, we unequivocally stand for the maintenance of peace and stability across this dynamic region, as an indispensable element of global security and prosperity," it said
"We condemn recent illicit missile launches in the region that violate UN Security Council resolutions. We express serious concern over recent dangerous and aggressive actions in the maritime domain. We seek a region where no country dominates and no country is dominated-one where all countries are free from coercion, and can exercise their agency to determine their futures," the declaration added.
The Quad leaders announced several initiatives, including the Quad Cancer Moonshot , a partnership aimed at saving lives in the Indo-Pacific region by combating cervical cancer and laying the groundwork for addressing other forms of cancer. India committed to providing HPV sampling kits, detection kits, and cervical cancer vaccines worth USD 7.5 million to the region, with Prime Minister Modi asserting that the grant was made under India's vision of 'One Earth, One Heath'.
"Building on the Quad's successful partnership during the COVID-19 pandemic, our collective investments to address cancer in the region, our scientific and medical capabilities, and contributions from our private and non-profit sectors, we will collaborate with partner nations to reduce the burden of cancer in the region," it said.
The QUAD nations also announced the Maritime Initiative for Training in the Indo-Pacific (MAITRI) to enable partners in the region to monitor and secure their waters, enforce laws, and deter unlawful behaviour. Additionally, they launched the Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network pilot project to pursue shared airlift capacity and support civilian response to natural disasters more efficiently across the region.
"We look forward to India hosting the inaugural MAITRI workshop in 2025. Furthermore, we welcome the launch of a Quad maritime legal dialogue to support efforts to uphold the rules-based maritime order in the Indo-Pacific. In addition, Quad partners intend to layer new technology and data into IPMDA over the coming year to continue to deliver cutting edge capability and information to the region," the declaration said.
The Quad Ports of the Future Partnership was also announced, which aims to support sustainable and resilient port infrastructure development across the Indo-Pacific in collaboration with regional partners. The four countries plan to hold a Quad Regional Ports and Transportation Conference, hosted by India in Mumbai, to coordinate, exchange information, and share best practices with partners in the region.
"Through this new partnership, Quad partners intend to coordinate, exchange information, share best practices with partners in the region, and leverage resources to mobilise government and private sector investments in quality port infrastructure across the Indo-Pacific region," the joint statement said.
The Quad Leaders' Summit, originally planned to be held in India, was moved to President Biden's hometown at his request. The Quad, formed in 2017, advocates for a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific, while China claims that the grouping aims to contain its rise.
