Quad renews pledge in the direction of working at no cost, secure Indo-Pacific

India, the US, Australia and Japan got here collectively 20 years in the past to increase help in response to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. File
| Picture Credit score: AP

India and different Quad member nations on Tuesday (December 31, 2024) renewed their agency dedication to work in the direction of a free and open Indo-Pacific that’s peaceable, secure and affluent.

The Overseas Ministers of the member nations of the grouping made the pledge in a joint assertion commemorating the twentieth anniversary of Quad cooperation.

The Overseas Ministers stated the Quad will work collectively in responding to the longer term wants of the Indo-Pacific, an assertion that got here towards the backdrop of China’s rising muscle-flexing within the area.

India, the US, Australia and Japan got here collectively 20 years in the past to increase help in response to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. The coalition is now generally known as Quad.

“As 4 companions, we share a imaginative and prescient of a free and open Indo-Pacific that’s peaceable, secure and affluent, underpinned by efficient regional establishments,” the joint assertion stated.

The Quad Overseas Ministers additionally talked concerning the centrality of the 10-nation grouping Affiliation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) within the Indo-Pacific.

“We reaffirm our unwavering help for ASEAN’s centrality and unity in addition to mainstreaming and implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific,” the Ministers stated.

“We respect Pacific-led regional structure, foremost the Pacific Islands Discussion board. We’re additionally steadfast in our help for the Indian Ocean Rim Affiliation, the area’s premier organisation,” they stated.

“The Quad is dedicated to working collectively in responding to the longer term wants of the area,” they added.

The Quad Overseas Ministers additionally referred to the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami and the way the 4 nations got here collectively to reply to the challenges.

“The tsunami was one of many worst disasters in historical past, claiming the lives of almost 1 / 4 million folks and displacing 1.7 million throughout 14 nations,” they stated.

“Collectively our 4 nations contributed over 40,000 emergency responders, working with different companions throughout the Indo-Pacific area to help hundreds of thousands of individuals affected by the disaster.”

Within the assertion, the Ministers additional famous that the foundational dedication of the 4 nations to humanitarian help and catastrophe aid stays robust.

“We proceed to work side-by-side to arrange for and reply rapidly and successfully to disasters throughout the area,” they stated.

“In 2024, our 4 nations collectively supported catastrophe preparedness and life-saving aid efforts throughout the Indo-Pacific and we proceed to construct on these efforts to determine new methods to reply quickly to humanitarian crises and disasters,” they added.