The leaders of the Quad countries—India, the United States, Australia, and Japan—convened for a pivotal summit in Wilmington, hosted by President Joe Biden. In a joint declaration, the leaders affirmed that the Quad is “more strategically aligned than ever before,” emphasising its role as a force for good in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Wilmington Declaration, released after the fourth in-person meeting of the Quad leaders, highlights the grouping’s commitment to regional stability and collective action. “Four years since elevating the Quad to a leader-level format, the Quad is more strategically aligned than ever before and is a force for good that delivers real, positive, and enduring impact for the Indo-Pacific,” said the Wilmington Declaration.
“We celebrate the fact that over just four years, Quad countries have built a vital and enduring regional grouping that will buttress the Indo-Pacific for decades to come,” the declaration said.
“As four leading maritime democracies in the Indo-Pacific, we unequivocally stand for the maintenance of peace and stability across this dynamic region, as an indispensable element of global security and prosperity,” it further said.
At the summit, the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to upholding democratic values, human rights, and international law. With strategic initiatives aimed at health, security, and infrastructure, the Quad is positioned to foster stability and prosperity in the region, despite concerns over China’s expanding influence. The summit marks a significant step forward in reinforcing the Quad’s role as a stabilising force in the Indo-Pacific.
Stance on regional security
The leaders collectively condemned recent actions that threaten peace in the region, particularly addressing China’s aggressive territorial claims in the South and East China Seas. They emphasised the importance of maintaining a rules-based order, asserting their opposition to any attempts to change the status quo through force or coercion. “We seek a region where no country dominates and no country is dominated,” the declaration stated, reflecting a unified front against coercive practices.
Quad Cancer Moonshot – Combating cancer in Indo-Pacific region
One of the standout announcements from the summit was the launch of the Quad Cancer Moonshot, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at combating cancer in the Indo-Pacific. The initiative will initially focus on cervical cancer, with India committing USD 7.5 million in HPV sampling kits, detection tools, and vaccines. Prime Minister Modi highlighted this effort as part of India’s vision of “One Earth, One Health.”
New maritime and logistic initiatives
The summit also unveiled several strategic initiatives, including the Maritime Initiative for Training in the Indo-Pacific (MAITRI), which aims to enhance regional maritime domain awareness and security. Additionally, a Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network will enable shared airlift capacity and improve disaster response efficiency across member nations.
Plans for a Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission in 2025 were announced to boost interoperability among naval forces, while a new Ports of the Future Partnership will focus on sustainable port infrastructure development across the region.
Expanding Educational and Research Collaborations
The Quad leaders expressed pride in the expansion of the Quad Infrastructure Fellowships program, which has already provided over 1,300 fellowships to experts across the member countries. Furthermore, the launch of the Quad BioExplore Initiative aims to facilitate joint exploration of biological data, underpinned by forthcoming principles for research collaboration.