From Quad 1.0 to Quad 2.0
Shiv Kumar · 2024
The United States (US) proposed the idea of Quad (2006) asserting that the four democracies – the US, Japan, Australia, and India – had significant naval capabilities and maritime interests in the Asia-Pacific region. However, the initiative was not formally institutionalised due to India, Japan, and Australia&s;s lukewarm and ambiguous responses. Subsequently, stiff opposition from both China and Russia, who dubbed the Quad initiative as “Asian NATO”. Although Quad 1.0 was regarded as a forgotten chapter in the Asia-Pacific region, after a decade, the Quad resurfaced as the four countries&s; top priority, with two factors (Indo-Pacific and China) boosting Quad 2.0. Since then, the four countries have successfully taken forward the Quad 2.0 with regular meetings, focusing on wider issues concerning the Indo-Pacific region and even the inclusion of new members to Quad. In this context, the chapter attempts to critically analyse the factors that shaped Quad 1.0 and 2.0 and its impact on regional and global politics. The chapter concludes that Quad, with common ideals, high-end capabilities, and complementary geography, can contribute to a ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific’ if China factor, as well as regional and economic pushbacks, can be avoided in the near future. If not, Quad 2.0 will follow in the footsteps of Quad 1.0.