6th Quad Summit 2024 | 24 Sep 2024

Source: PIB

Why in News?

Recently, the 6th Quad Summit was held at Delaware in the United States. It was the 4th in-person Quad Leaders' Summit.

• The Quad is leading ambitious projects to help partners address pandemics and disease, confront the threat of climate change, bolster cybersecurity among others.

What are the Key Highlights of the 6th Quad Summit?

• Health:
  • Quad Health Security Partnership (QHSP): QHSP was launched by Quad in 2023 to enhance health security coordination in the Indo-Pacific region.
    • New initiatives like the Quad Cancer Moonshot, has been announced for treatment of cervical cancer.
  • Pandemic Preparedness: The United States has pledged over USD 84.5 million to enhance infectious disease prevention and response capabilities across fourteen Indo-Pacific nations.
• Maritime Security: 
  • MAITRI: The Quad has introduced the Maritime Initiative for Training in the Indo-Pacific (MAITRI) to enhance regional maritime security capabilities.
    • The Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA) was launched in 2022 to improve maritime security and monitor illegal activities.
  • Indo-Pacific Logistics Network: The Quad has initiated a logistics network to improve airlift capacity for rapid disaster response across the Indo-Pacific, aiming for efficiency in civilian responses.
  • Coast Guard Cooperation: A first-ever Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission is planned for 2025, to enhance interoperability.
• Quality Infrastructure Development:
  • Digital Infrastructure Principles: The Quad has established principles for the development of digital public infrastructure, focusing on security and inclusivity.
  • Quad Ports of the Future Partnership: It aims to support resilient port infrastructure development and enhance regional connectivity across the Indo-Pacific region.
    • In 2025, Quad partners intend to hold the inaugural Regional Ports and Transportation Conference in Mumbai.
  • Undersea Cables and Digital Connectivity: Quad partners have committed over USD 140 million to undersea cable projects, aiming for primary telecommunication connectivity for all Pacific island countries by 2025.
    • For this, Australia launched the Cable Connectivity and Resilience Centre in July 2024.
  • Quad Infrastructure Fellowship: It aims to improve capacity and deepen professional networks across the region to design, manage, and attract investment in infrastructure projects.
• Critical and Emerging Technology: 
  • Open Radio Access Network (RAN) and 5G: In 2023, the Quad initiated its first Open RAN deployment in Palau, aiming to build a secure telecommunications ecosystem, with an investment of approximately USD 20 million.
    • The Quad intends to support ongoing Open RAN trials and the Asia Open RAN Academy in the Philippines.
  • AI-ENGAGE Initiative (2023): Through the Advancing Innovations for Empowering NextGen Agriculture (AI-ENGAGE), Quad governments are deepening leading-edge collaborative research to harness artificial intelligence and robotics to empower next-generation agriculture.
  • BioExplore Initiative: It aims to utilise AI in studying biological ecosystems to innovate in disease diagnosis, crop resilience, and clean energy solutions.
  • Semiconductors: The Quad leaders finalised Memorandum of Cooperation to facilitate collaboration in addressing semiconductor supply chain risks.
  • Quantum Technology: The Quad Investors Network (QUIN), a nonprofit initiative, highlighted ways in which Quad country’s Quantum ecosystems can work together to collectively leverage capital and expertise.
• Climate and Clean Energy: 
  • Enhanced Early Warning Systems: The US will provide 3D-printed weather stations to help Pacific Island countries while Australia and Japan are enhancing regional disaster risk reduction efforts.
    • Japan is also enhancing cooperation with Pacific Island countries under its Pacific Climate Resilience Initiative.
  • Quad Clean Energy Supply Chain Diversification Program (2023): It aims to support the development of secure and diversified clean energy supply chains in the Indo-Pacific region. 
    • India committed to invest USD 2 million in new solar projects in Fiji, Comoros, Madagascar, and Seychelles.
• Cybersecurity: The Quad has developed the Quad Action Plan to protect commercial undersea telecommunications cables, to advance the Quad’s shared vision for future digital connectivity, global commerce, and prosperity.
  • The Quad is working together to foster a resilient information environment through its Countering Disinformation Working Group, by supporting media freedom and addressing foreign information manipulation and interference.
• Space: Quad partners intend to share expertise and experience in space situational awareness (SSA), contributing to long-term sustainability of the space environment. 
• Countering Terrorism: Quad leaders discussed counter terrorism threats, Quad counter terrorism good practices, and ways the Quad can work together to mitigate acts of terrorism through information sharing and strategic messaging.
  • The Quad Counter Terrorism Working Group (CTWG) currently focuses on countering the use of unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS), chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear devices (CBRN), and the internet for terrorist purposes.
• People-to-People Initiatives: India announces a new initiative to award fifty Quad scholarships, worth USD 500,000, to students from the Indo-Pacific to pursue a 4-year undergraduate engineering program at a Government of India-funded technical institution.

What are Quad Principles for Development and Deployment of Digital Public Infrastructure?

• About the Principles: It was announced by the Quad countries that outline a framework for building and using digital infrastructure that is inclusive, transparent, and respects democratic values.
• About Digital public infrastructure (DPI): It is described as a set of shared digital systems that are secure, reliable and interoperable.
  • They are built and leveraged by the public and private sector to provide equitable access and improve public service delivery at a large scale.
• Quad Principles for DPI: Quad affirmed the following principles for the development and deployment of DPI among others.
  • Inclusivity: Eliminate barriers to empower end-users and ensure last-mile access, avoiding algorithmic bias.
  • Interoperability: Use open standards for interoperability while considering legal and technical constraints.
  • Scalability: Design systems flexibly to manage unexpected demand increases or expansions.
  • Security and Privacy: Integrate privacy-enhancing technologies and security features to protect individual data and resilience.
  • Governance for Public Benefit: Ensure systems are safe, trusted, transparent, and promote competition, inclusion, and data protection.
  • Sustainability: Ensure continuous operations through adequate financing and technological support.
  • Intellectual Property Protection: Protect intellectual property rights based on existing legal frameworks.
  • Sustainable Development: Align systems with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

What is Quad?

• About: Quad, or Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, is a diplomatic partnership among Australia, India, Japan, and the US. 
  • It focuses on stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, promoting an open, stable, and resilient environment.
• Objectives of Quad: The Quad aims to address pressing regional challenges, including health security, climate change, infrastructure, technology, cybersecurity, humanitarian assistance, maritime security, countering disinformation, and counter-terrorism.
• Origins of Quad: The Quad originated in response to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, where the four nations provided humanitarian assistance. 
  • Formally established in 2007 by the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the group went dormant due to concerns over China's reactions, particularly after Australia withdrew in 2008. 
  • It was revived in 2017 amid shifting regional attitudes toward China's influence, culminating in its first formal summit in 2021.
• Expansion Potential: “Quad-plus” meetings have included nations like South Korea, New Zealand, and Vietnam, indicating potential for future expansion.

Conclusion

The Quad is dedicated to enhancing health security against pandemics, confronting the climate change threat, and bolstering cybersecurity. By fostering collaboration and innovation across these critical areas, the Quad aims to ensure a resilient and prosperous Indo-Pacific, contributing to global stability and sustainable development.