External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday commemorated the 20th anniversary of the Quad, emphasizing its evolution from a collective response to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami into a key force driving stability, progress, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.
In a post shared on X, Jaishankar said, “Two decades ago, the idea of Quad began with a shared response to the Indian Ocean tsunami. Today, the Quad stands as a vital force for stability, progress, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.” He further reaffirmed the commitment of India, along with Australia, Japan, and the United States, to address the region’s pressing needs.
On the occasion of the milestone, Jaishankar joined Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in reaffirming their nations’ pledge to the region’s development.
Earlier in the day, the four nations marked the 20th anniversary of their cooperation, which originated in the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. A joint statement released by the leaders noted that the Quad’s formation was spurred by the tragedy, which claimed nearly a quarter of a million lives and displaced 1.7 million people across 14 countries. The countries involved collectively deployed over 40,000 emergency responders to provide critical support to those affected by the disaster.
The statement also underscored the continued commitment of the Quad nations to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, with a focus on disaster preparedness and response across the Indo-Pacific. In 2024, the four countries collaborated on disaster preparedness and life-saving relief efforts, with an ongoing commitment to identifying new ways to respond swiftly to future crises.
Over the past two decades, the Quad has evolved from an emergency response unit into a comprehensive partnership addressing a broad range of challenges in the region. From combating climate change, cancer, and pandemics, to enhancing infrastructure, maritime domain awareness, STEM education, counter-terrorism, emerging technologies, and cybersecurity, the Quad has significantly expanded its focus. Since 2021, the leaders of the Quad nations have met annually to guide the group’s efforts across South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific.
The statement further reaffirmed the Quad’s vision for a free, open, peaceful, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific, emphasizing the importance of regional institutions such as ASEAN, the Pacific Islands Forum, and the Indian Ocean Rim Association. The four nations pledged continued support for these institutions and reaffirmed their commitment to meeting the evolving needs of the Indo-Pacific region.
The Quad—comprising Australia, India, Japan, and the United States—has grown into a diplomatic force dedicated to ensuring an inclusive and resilient Indo-Pacific. Its origins date back to the collective efforts of these nations in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami, marking the beginning of a partnership that has continued to strengthen over the years.
(Inputs from ANI)