Change-proofing the Quad's global public goods mission in the Indo-Pacific

Global Public Goods (GPGs) enable the Quad to don the mantle of strategic ambiguity and as a non-threatening, benign, beneficial and stabilizing force in the turbulent waters of the Indo-Pacific.

- LAKSHMI PURI

The context in which the Quad got upgraded to the Summit level during the first Presidency of Donald Trump and expanded in scope during the Biden Presidency primarily put a spotlight on the strategic security significance of the US, Australia, India and Japan coming together as part of the "USled security latticework" in the redefined and rechristened Indo-Pacific Region.

It marked India's geopolitical and geo-economic footprint in what used to be the out of bounds Asia Pacific.

While Japan and Australia were already a part of this security formation as allies, India's joining it as a strategic partner was the novelty and additional merit. It was a far cry from the days in the 1990s when I was in Ministry of External Affairs and India sought to be associated with APEC, we were told we are not in the geographical footprint of the Asia-Pacific.

The Quad was meant to implicitly balance and contain China in its maritime behaviour. It sought to deter China from coercively, arbitrarily and unilaterally setting the terms of engagement and pose challenges to peace, security, stability and prosperity in the region.

An equally important part of its original raison d'être (Tsunami of 2004) and mandate that has grown organically over the last few years is one that would position the Quad on another strategic fitness front. As a contrast to the rather transactional BRI, debt diplomacy and trade deficit propagating "cooperation" policies of China, the effort of Quad leaders has been to position itself as the Leaders' Joint Statement in May 2024 said, to "work together to be a global force for good." Global Public Goods (GPGs) enable the Quad to don the mantle of strategic ambiguity and as a nonthreatening, benign, beneficial and stabilizing force in the turbulent waters of the Indo-Pacific. It equilibrates strength perception with cooperation, sheds a provocation stance while deterring coercion and presents soft power to complement hard power.