In a significant step to bolster maritime security and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, the Coast Guards of the Quad nations – comprising India, the United States, Japan, and Australia – have jointly launched their first-ever ‘Quad at-sea Ship Observer Mission.
Maritime Security
The Quad, an informal strategic forum comprising India, the United States, Japan, and Australia, has launched its inaugural ‘Quad at-sea Ship Observer Mission’ to bolster maritime security and enhance interoperability across the Indo-Pacific region. This initiative, conceptualized at the Quad Summit 2024 in Wilmington, United States, represents a significant step in the group’s efforts to foster a free, open, inclusive, and rules-based Indo-Pacific and to counter hegemonic designs in the region.
The mission, launched under the framework of the Wilmington Declaration, involves the deployment of two officers from the coast guards of each Quad nation, including women officers. These observers have embarked on board the US Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) Stratton, which is currently en route to Guam.
According to a statement from India’s Ministry of Defence, this cross-embarkation mission is an “unprecedented step” in Quad Coast Guard collaboration. It aims to enhance joint readiness, operational coordination, and maritime domain awareness, thereby supporting the shared vision of a Free, Open, Inclusive, and Rules-Based Indo-Pacific.
The participating agencies include the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), Japan Coast Guard (JCG), US Coast Guard (USCG), and Australian Border Force (ABF). The mission is expected to facilitate joint drills, operational discussions, and cultural exchanges at sea, allowing the officers to observe shipboard procedures, navigation systems, and communication protocols.
Enhanced Cooperation
While the Quad explicitly states it is not a military alliance, the member states of India, the United States, Japan, and Australia have undeniably deepened their military and security cooperation under its framework in recent years. This increasing collaboration is largely driven by a shared commitment to a free, open, inclusive, and rules-based Indo-Pacific, and implicitly, to counter China’s growing assertive posture in the region.
The impetus for this enhanced cooperation was clearly articulated at the Quad Summit 2024 in Wilmington, United States, hosted by then-US President Joe Biden. Biden, alongside Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, played a pivotal role in positioning the Quad as a leading instrument for managing the Indo-Pacific region and addressing China’s aggressive actions.
A prominent example of this heightened military cooperation is the annual Malabar military drills, which in 2023 were held off the Australian coast and were widely referred to as ‘Quad Drills’ due to the participation of all four member states. These exercises focus on interoperability, anti-submarine warfare, and maritime security operations, demonstrating a growing level of coordination among their navies.
The recently launched ‘Quad at-sea Ship Observer Mission’ further solidifies this trend. This mission, involving two officers (including women) from the coast guards of each nation observing operations aboard the USCGC Stratton, is a direct outcome of the Wilmington Declaration. While focused on coast guard functions, it inherently strengthens maritime domain awareness, operational coordination, and joint readiness,
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Source: First Post
