Indiascope- As India Engages With The World: QUAD- Arranged Love Marriage

Hello friends! The winds of dynamism and apparent resettling of the world after the pandemic are blowing rapidly as the new decade starts. With the rise of China, QUAD has emerged from the churning of the Indo-Pacific very recently. It is a grouping of four nations- India, USA, Japan, and Australia. If geographical locations of these countries are connected, it forms a quadrilateral. Hence the name is QUAD. Its also sometimes referred as Asia's Democratic Security Diamond. Its formal name is Quadrilateral Security Dialogue.

(QUAD countries on World Map)

Here, this article tries to deal with implications and opportunities for India as a member of the QUAD. For the facts and figures, one can check out- QUAD.

QUAD is alliance politics. As new powers rise, other competitors or existing powers try to either prevent that power from rising or cooperate with it. China was talking of a "peaceful rise" for decades. Now that language of peace has changed into the language of aggression and adventurism. The existing power has to protect its interests. The existing global power is the USA. Since the 2008 financial crisis, USA has been changing its approach towards China. US-China relations started reflecting hostilities after decades of friendship. If Obama started it with a gun, Trump came with the missile.

Here, India comes into the picture. USA needed a strong player to join the party. It had already alliance relations with Japan and Australia. India was the ideal partner for USA. However, it's not that USA was only using India as a pawn. India too needs such an alliance. Why?

As explained in the previous article, India's vital interests in the Indian Ocean are core for its security-economic as well as military. Chinese string of pearls encircling India through the ocean poses an immediate threat to Indian stakes.

Border disputes between India - China can lead to serious stalemate as happened in Galwan valley. To pressurize China in the Himalayas, Indian ocean is the home ground using QUAD as a team. The strong Indian naval presence with support from partners can deter China from its adventurism.

QUAD comes with a vision of a Free and Open Indo pacific. It's one angle is economic. India can gain from freedom of navigation by negotiating trade deals with a range of shore neighbors from west Asia to the Pacific islands nations. The second aspect of Free and Openness directs ante towards China. It cant continue its stunts under the nose of QUAD anymore.

India is the only member of QUAD which directly share a land boundary with China. So with the gains comes risks as well. If China takes it as bitter pill used to treat Chinese danger, it will be more adventurous. Galwan was one such incident. However, there is no free lunch in international politics.

QUAD is an informal grouping so far. The ministerial meeting on October 6,2020 decided to take Australia into Malabar military exercises. With its naval force, Aussies can do a lot more contributions to the grouping. China used to refer to QUAD as 'foam of Indo Pacific.' Now it's saying that it is an Indo-Pacific NATO.

The grouping has definitely gained track in recent months. with careful and planned choices, QUAD has become arranged love marriage for India. Its choice as well as need at the same time. The confusions and apprehensions remain yet. QUAD plus is also in discussion showing trends towards challenging Belt and Road Initiative through Indo Pacific. As Sujan Chinoy pointed out QUAD now needs a blueprint to act.

The content of this blueprint significantly depends on the White House in Washington. Joe Biden is expected to take President's Chair in a couple of weeks. This again highlights the triangular game between India China and USA. Hence, whether QUAD becomes the next NATO or what, time will tell.