Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday that increased coordination between members of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or Quad, is ensuring peace, prosperity, and stability in the Indo-Pacific, and the grouping has a constructive agenda that strengthens its image as a “force for good.”
Modi said the Quad has made an important place for itself on the global stage in a very short time during his opening remarks at the second in-person Quad Leaders Summit in Tokyo. “Today, the Quad has a broader scope and is more influential,” he said.
“Despite the difficult circumstances of Covid-19,” Modi said in Hindi, “we have increased mutual coordination in several areas such as vaccine delivery, climate action, supply chain resilience, disaster response, and economic cooperation.”
“This is ensuring the Indo-Pacific region’s peace, prosperity, and stability.” The Quad is pursuing a constructive agenda for the Indo-Pacific region. With US President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida by his side, he said, “This will continue to strengthen the Quad’s image as a force for good.”
“At the Quad level, mutual cooperation is encouraging a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region, which is a shared objective for all of us,” Modi said, adding that the Quad members’ mutual trust and determination are giving “democratic forces a new energy and enthusiasm.”
Modi did not mention the Ukraine crisis in his opening remarks, unlike the other Quad leaders.
Differences have emerged among the Quad members over the conflict in Ukraine, with the US, Australia, and Japan all condemning Russia’s aggression, which has had a significant impact on Europe’s security architecture.
India has repeatedly called for an end to Ukraine’s hostilities and a return to diplomacy and dialogue. Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said India’s partners appreciated and understood the country’s policy on the Ukraine crisis ahead of Modi’s visit to Japan for the Quad Summit.
