Context:
The Coast Guards of India, Japan, the United States, and Australia have launched the first ‘QUAD at Sea Ship Observer Mission’. Conducted under the Wilmington Declaration, this is the first cross-embarkation mission involving two officers (including women) from each QUAD nation. The officers have embarked on board the US Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) Stratton, currently en route to Guam.
Strategic Significance
- Enhances:
- Maritime interoperability
- Joint operational readiness
- Domain awareness in the Indo-Pacific
- Supports the QUAD’s vision of a Free, Open, Inclusive, and Rules-Based Indo-Pacific.
- Aligns with the QUAD Leaders’ Summit (September 2024) commitment to deeper maritime cooperation.
India’s Role & Strategic Vision
- Reinforces India’s SAGAR doctrine: Security and Growth for All in the Region.
- Complements India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) pillars, especially:
- Capacity building
- Humanitarian assistance
- Maritime rule of law
- Promotes the concept of a ‘QUAD Coast Guard Handshake’ — aimed at trust-building and collective maritime resilience.
