The Quad Summit on Saturday in Delaware is set to announce the expansion of joint maritime security operations in the Indian Ocean and closer coastguard integration throughout the Indo-Pacific.
Leaders of the United States, Australia, India, and Japan are expected to announce the expansion of the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA) initiative from Southeast Asia to the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), the White House said. The IPMDA, which aims to monitor illegal activities at sea, was first launched at the Quad Leaders Summit in Tokyo two years ago.
Thanking India’s leadership, the White House said that this expansion will aid in monitoring illegal fishing and other unlawful activities in waters where China’s influence is growing. This development comes amid rising tensions in the East and South China Seas due to China’s increasingly aggressive military actions.
A senior Biden administration official, elaborating on the IPMDA initiative, explained, “In addition to the coverage IPMDA already provides to our partners in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands to help them monitor their waters for illegal fishing and other activities, it will now expand to include the Indian Ocean Region, thanks to India’s leadership.”
The White House official added that the initiative “will incorporate advanced technologies to enhance the maritime domain awareness of our partners.” Additionally, “it will provide new training programs to ensure that all partners receiving this critical project are well-prepared to utilize it effectively,” the official noted.
The expectations from the Summit in Wilmington are to demonstrate that the Quad partners are more strategically aligned than ever before, remain committed to providing real resources to the Indo-Pacific, and, most importantly, to affirm that “the Quad is here to stay,” a U.S. administration official said.
Another White House official informed reporters that the coastguards of Japan, the United States, Australia, and India will begin sharing personnel on their vessels patrolling the Indo-Pacific. A framework will also be announced to coordinate support measures for third-country coastguards to improve their capabilities.
The four countries aim to strengthen the rules-based maritime order by further advancing their cooperation in maritime security. “What you can expect on Coast Guard cooperation from the global leaders summit is, for the first time, a U.S. Coast Guard vessel will welcome Japanese, Australian, and Indian counterparts aboard for a period of time in the Indo-Pacific. This cooperation will continue on a rotational basis as appropriate,” the official explained.
A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators and members of the U.S. House of Representatives announced on September 21 the formation of a caucus to promote the Quad, ahead of the summit in Wilmington. “The launch of the Quad caucus demonstrates that Capitol Hill is just as invested in the Quad as we are, and that, on a bipartisan basis, both parties support and recognize that the Quad will be a fixture in the Indo-Pacific for years to come,” a U.S. administration official said.
Another significant announcement expected at the summit relates to U.S. President Joe Biden’s ambitious “Cancer Moonshot” initiative. “This year’s announcement will highlight contributions by all four Quad countries in combating cervical cancer, a preventable form of cancer. With vaccines, screening, and increased treatment provided by these nations, we can make a significant impact on what is the second leading cause of death for women,” a senior White House official added.
The gathering in Wilmington marks the first time President Biden has invited foreign leaders to his home, a testament to his close relationships with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Biden has also hosted each of these prime ministers at the White House for official state visits, an honor reserved for the closest allies.
With the hometown summit in Delaware, the White House aims to project a strong alliance with Indo-Pacific partners, especially as countering China’s growing influence remains a top priority for the Biden administration. The joint statement is expected to feature stronger language than in previous meetings regarding the South China Sea and North Korea’s threats, officials indicated.
This will be the sixth time the leaders have met, and the fourth in person, since Biden elevated the Quad to the leader level in 2021. This summit is expected to be Biden’s final Quad summit as president, as he raised the group’s status during his first year in office.
During both group discussions and individual conversations this weekend, Biden is likely to proudly showcase his home, known as the “Lake House” due to the manmade lake on its grounds. He plans to share significant moments of his career that have taken place there, including the night he learned he had been elected president four years ago.
Originally, India was set to host the summit this year, but due to scheduling conflicts with the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the U.S. and India decided to switch responsibilities. India is now scheduled to host the next summit in 2025, raising the possibility that Vice President Kamala Harris, whose mother immigrated from India, could make a symbolic return if she is elected in November.
(ANI)