Quad talks outreach, plans to begin with southeast Asia

India, Japan, Australia and the US held their third round of Quadrilateral meet in Singapore on Thursday. They agreed to expand Quad’s ambit by partnering “with other countries and forums in the region to promote a free, open, rules-based and inclusive order in the Indo-Pacific”.

The US National Defence Authorisation Act, 2018, had also suggested external outreach for the format.

“The participants reaffirmed the ASEAN centrality as the cornerstone of a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific,” a statement issued by the MEA noted after the meet in Singapore on the sidelines of East Asia and ASEAN summits.


While the statement did not name countries with which Quad will partner, it is understood that partnership could begin with some Southeast Asian nations.

“The discussions focused on cooperation in areas such as connectivity, sustainable development, counter terrorism, nonproliferation and maritime and cyber security, with a view to promoting peace, stability and prosperity in Indo-Pacific,” the MEA statement added. “They committed to strengthening connectivity and quality infrastructure based on sovereignty, equality and territorial integrity of all nations, as well as transparency, economic viability and financial responsibility,” the statement said, in an indirect critique of China’s BRI model, which has led nations to debt trap.

The last round of Quad in June this year was also held in Singapore. The four countries had decided to organise a meeting every six months. While larger goal of Quad is to balance China in the Indo-Pacific, India and Japan view it as one of many plurilaterals to keep Indo-Pacific stable.