Forming Quadro difficult, but not impossible

Can the US, China, Russia and India join hands to address global challenges together?

- CHINTAMANI MAHAPATRA

The entire globe is currently in a state of political, economic, social and strategic turbulence. If the prevailing ideas and initiatives to bring about normalcy are not working, it is time to muse over an out-of-the-box proposal.

Recently, the CUTS International and Chintan Research Foundation brought together about two dozen thought leaders to deliberate upon the future of the global order, international institutions and probable powerplay among the influential actors in world politics to deliberate upon whether the United States, China, Russia and India could join hands to address global challenges together. Calling it a potential Quadro, the idea was put on the table for brainstorming.

The idea of formation of a Quadro in the backdrop of RussoAmerican tussle over the Ukraine War, Sino-US economic cold war and underlying tension in India-China relations was promptly rejected by some as an unworkable proposition. Others argued that the international community will not accept the Quadro concept that appears to be an effort by four powerful nations to hand down their consensual views on redressing regional and global problems. Still, some proposed an expanded body of countries that could include Japan and the EU to make an acceptable gathering of powerful actors to address major challenges facing the international community. Yet, others opined that the Quadro idea could better fit in to resolve Indo-Pacific challenges rather than global issues.