GLOBAL REALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC INCLUSIVITY

Can Quad and Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) shape global realignment, drive the world as engine of economic growth, and overcome the deficiency of present ineffective global governance system? Is it going to evolve towards a genuine multipolar global system with the democratic countries leading, or will continue to be dominated by the United States? Is India ready to take the opportunity provided by Quad to leapfrog its technologicalmilitary capabilities and enhance its economic power to be engine of economic growth in the Indian Ocean region and world at large?

- VIJAY KUMAR KAUL

'Quad’ has now started gaining momentum and expanding its scope of activities, as autocratic regimes in the world are aggressively challenging the rule-based system and disturbing global peace, stability and security. Quad, a Quadrilateral alliance of Democratic countries- Australia, India, Japan and the United States- aims at rebalancing lopsided global supply chain and fragile globalisation, helping energy transition and green infrastructure building to decarbonise the planet, give direction to technological advancement and standards, providing global public goods, and ensuring free, fair and secure Indo-Pacific region. The continuing Ukraine-Russia war, USA-China tech war, China’s aggression in threatening its neighbours and weaponising trade relations, global warming and climate change challenges, Covid pandemic disrupting global supply chain, growing inequalities and food securities challenges have all increased global turbulence. The present global governance system represented by the United Nations with all inclusivity and selected Veto power has been unable to deal effectively with these global challenges. New experiments and grouping are being initiated in geopolitical and geo-economic arena. Quad is one of such initiatives shaping global realignment with strategic inclusivity.

The growing importance of Quad reflects in the utterances from China, which is rattled has named it as Asian NATO and its economic initiatives as Economic NATO.

Quad is a well-thought-out initiative, which needs to be evolved and strengthened with like-minded democratic countries for global peace, stability and security, particularly Indo-Pacific region.

Growing complexity and turbulence in the world