- “India’s evolving multi-polar foreign policy is reflected in India’s Affiance to QUAD”. Comment. (15 marks, 250 words)
Structure of Answer
- Write an Introduction abour QUAD
- Write how India’s multi polar foreign policy
- Write how it is reflected in India’s affiance to QUAD.
- Write a way forward and a balanced conclusion.
Introduction
Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) is the informal strategic dialogue between India, USA, Japan and Australia with a shared objective to ensure and support a “free, open and prosperous” Indo-Pacific region.
- To keep the critical sea routes in the Indo-Pacific free of any influence (especially China).
India’s multi polar foreign policy
- In the New Millenia, world is changing into a multipolar one, from a Unipolar one lead by USA.
- India’s Foreign policy is now shifting to a multipolar one
- Distancing from NAM(Non Alignment Movement)
- Getting more closer to USA in all spheres
- Keeping evergreen friend Russia happy through buying weapons and other diplomatic and economic in interactions.
- Asserting its role in Indian Ocean Region through engagement with island nations.
- Countering China in its territorial ambitions, but positive engagements in other areas like trade (India didn’t join BRI(Belt Road Initiative), but cooperates in BRICS)
- Opposing Western world in Multilateral forums(World Bank, IMF etc ) along with developing nations& China(Started Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank , BRICS Bank).
- Demanding India’s rightful place in UN Security Council through a permanent seat.
- Engagement with SAARC, and isolating Pakistan.
- Seeking more meaningful engagement with Islamic countries Like Iran(Chabahar Project), UAE (diaspora investment) etc
- Assuming leadership of developing and poor countries through forums like Climate summits and WTO.
India’s multi-polar foreign policy reflected in India’s Affiance to QUAD
- India is cooperating with USA, Japan, Australia on basis of shared interest.
- Quad is to share notes and collaborate on projects of mutual interest.
- Vision of an open and free Indo-Pacific.
- in development and economic projects
- in promoting maritime domain awareness
- In maritime security.
- Is one of the many avenues for interaction among India, Australia, Japan and the US.
- To counter China’s aggressive expansion in Indo-Pacific area.
- The Quad is a plurilateral mechanism between countries that share interest on specific matters.
- Entire focus on the Indo-Pacific makes the Quad a maritime rather than a land-based grouping.
- Raising questions whether the cooperation extends to the Asia-Pacific and Eurasian regions.
- There are also common references to
- the creation of a free,open and inclusive regional architecture
- rules of the road
- freedom of navigation
- over-flight
- ASEAN centrality.
- To Counter China:
- The Chinese labelled QUAD as an Asian version of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
- Against advancement of
- a new claim the Nine-Dash Line in the South China Sea. built its first overseas base in Djibouti.
- It started systematically to explore the surface and sub-surface environment in the Indian Ocean beyond the Malacca Straits.
- This entire activity was coordinated by a Central Leading Small Group for Protecting Maritime Rights and Interests, established in 2012.
- Against China’s dismissal of the Arbitral Award.
- Against China In the dispute with the Philippines on the South China Sea.
- Against brazen militarisation of the islands after China’s President had publicly pronounced to the contrary.
Way Forward
- Need to better explain that the Indo-Pacific Vision is an overarching framework.
- discussed in a transparent manner
- with the objective of advancing everyone’s economic and security interests.
- The forthcoming Ministerial meeting will be an opportunity
- to define the idea and chart a future path.
- A positive agenda built around collective action in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
- Monitoring shipping for search and rescue or anti-piracy operations.
- Infrastructure assistance to climatically vulnerable states.
- Connectivity initiatives and similar activities
- will re-assure the littoral States that the Quad will be a factor for regional benefit.
- India should develop a comprehensive vision on the Indo-Pacific
- which would ideate on the maritime challenges.
- consolidate its military and non-military tools.
- engage its strategic partners.
- An outreach to the Indian Ocean littoral states is especially important.
Conclusion
A ‘broader Asia’ that broke away geographical boundaries is now beginning to take on a distinct form. It is the right time to realise this dream.QUAD is an opportunity to re-establish this balance.