Trump, Quad And Indo-Pacific
In the fortnight since he has been U.S. President, Donald Trump has got cracking. Be it illegal immigration, border security or Gaza. Given the U.S. focus on China, what next for the future of Quad and the Indo-Pacific?
The U.S. has deep interests in the Indo-Pacific, so we expect continuity in the level of engagement, says Philip Green, Australian envoy to India.
Soon after Trump took charge, the Quad foreign ministers met in Washington, DC. “That’s a powerful signal of the new administration’s commitment to the Quad. It’s a great start,” Green told StratNews Global Editor-in-Chief Nitin A. Gokhale.
‘Quad Not Against Any Country’
Trump has already imposed tariffs on China. Key members of his administration are negative on China. So will Trump go after China by militarising the Quad?
The Quad isn’t directed at any particular country, says Green. The focus is on signalling to our region that the four democracies believe in a free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific, he adds. “We have an enduring commitment and are prepared to do things to support that vision.”
According to him, Quad is engaging with the region to support the strategic interests that underline countries’ sovereignty, ensure they are able to make choices and are not subject to coercion.
Maritime Domain Awareness
He cites maritime domain awareness as an example. We are offering capabilities to countries so they can better understand what is happening in their waterways, including dark shipping. Australia is helping South Pacific countries in having access to high quality internet by giving them access to undersea cables, he says.
The region suffers from environmental disasters from time to time. And the roots of the Quad go back to 2004. In the aftermath of the Indian Ocean tsunami, the four countries came together to coordinate emergency assistance and relief. That commitment to support countries in our region when natural disasters strike remains, says Green.
