INDIA NEWS
May 16-31, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 21
WHAT’S ON
Continued from Page 13
The Quad, being a group of democratic countries which respect the sovereignty of each other, would not make any fuss on each other’s foreign policy. Rather they would focus on strategic collaboration in the Indo-Pacific region. The intention of Quad is clear from the very beginning, i.e., maintaining peace and stability as well as smooth mercantile movement in the Indo-Pacific and not expansionism. India is pivotal to the US IndoPacific strategy. Its importance in the Indo-Pacific region has increased due to a shift in geopolitics as highlighted by the Indian Foreign Minister - “the Indian and Pacific Oceans have become much more seamless. It is increasingly untenable to see them in compartmentalized terms, which is part of a larger geopolitical shift”. India is now recognised as a great link between the Western Pacific
and the Indian Ocean -- the major theatres of contemporary geopolitics. India’s geographic location, size, and military capabilities as the world’s second largest army, ranking fifth overall (ahead of France, Israel and South Korea), and a formidable presence in the Indian Ocean, make India an ideal strategic partner for the Quad. The US State Department has always highlighted that a strong US-India partnership is vital to the Indo-Pacific vision, particularly for safe and free mercantile movement and compliance of the international conventions in and around the South China Sea in particular and the Indo-Pacific region in general. During his recent India visit, the Prime Minister of the UK also highlighted India’s importance in maintaining peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and his willingness to cooperate with
India in this regard. India’s importance for Quad cannot be underestimated. It has been an influential power in South Asia and South-East Asia. It enjoys deep economic and strategic ties with the countries of the region. Since India shares democratic values with other Quad partners and security concerns due to increased Chinese unlawful activities in the Indo-Pacific region, often based on military expansionism and violation of international laws, India remains strategically the most pivotal partner of Quad and other Western countries. Anticipation about critical discussion in the upcoming Quad summit over India’s position on the Russia - Ukraine conflict is farfetched and unrealistic. The US has already indicated that it understands and appreciates India’s position on the Ukraine war.
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