Since the next ASEAN head of the states’ summit will be held in Vientiane next month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s further strategy for forming the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) could be introduced. This strategy will focus on several key domains: supply chain assurance, critical infrastructure, maritime situational awareness, and cybersecurity.
The next QUAD summit in Wilmington, Delaware, on September 21 poses a leadership test as its members try to keep the ‘Indo-Pacific’ region’s centre stage amidst escalating tension arising out of PLA Navy provocation. It also stresses that leaders should not be distracted by events like the conflict in Gaza and Ukraine and official send-offs to former President Joe Biden and the Prime Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida.
Apart from this, together with attending the fourth in-person QUAD summit, PM Modi is also anticipated to hold bilateral meetings separately with President Joe Biden, PM Kishida, and Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Yet, due to time factors, such bilateral meetings are still under discussion, and it is highly improbable that Modi could meet some other allies, such as Emmanuel Macron of France or Giorgia Meloni of Italy. It has not yet been agreed when the president and Mr Trump might meet.
A major area of discussion during the QUAD summit will, therefore, be the improvement of protection, especially of critical structures against cyber activities by both state and non-state actors. Recent advances by China in the Philippines, as well as the firing of missiles by Iran-backed Houthis on international shipping, have escalated tension in the South. To strengthen maritime domain awareness with respect to dark ships, the QUAD countries have decided to leverage the software HawkEye 360 developed by a U.S.-based company.
Although Australia and Japan are official partners of the United States, the situation is different from that of India, which is located in the middle of the Indo-Pacific region and has a two-carrier task force navy.
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