The Indian Ministry of Defense announced on Monday (June 30) that the coast guards of India, the United States, Australia, and Japan have initiated an unprecedented “Quad Naval Ship Observation Mission” to enhance maritime security and interoperability in the Indo-Pacific region, in response to the threat posed by China.
According to a statement released by the Indian Ministry of Defense, personnel from the coast guards of India, the United States, Australia, and Japan, including two female officers from each country, have “boarded the US Coast Guard Cutter Stratton en route to Guam.”
Amid China’s continuous coercion of neighboring countries to make strategic concessions and its attempts to expand influence in the Indo-Pacific region, India has been advocating for the establishment of a free, open, and inclusive order in the region, with the core principle being to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations.
This quadrilateral defense mission is based on the “2024 Wilmington Declaration.” The joint statement from the “Quad” countries – the United States, Japan, India, and Australia, during the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue held last year, announced plans to launch the first joint maritime patrol mission in 2025 to enhance interoperability, promote maritime security, and continue executing more missions in the Indo-Pacific region over the coming years.
The Indian Ministry of Defense stated in the announcement that this joint boarding mission signifies an unprecedented step in cooperation among the coast guards of the four countries, enhancing joint readiness, operational coordination, and regional awareness to support the establishment of a free, open, inclusive, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region.
India emphasized the need to peacefully resolve disputes within the framework of international law through dialogue.
The statement mentioned, “This quadrilateral joint patrol mission reflects the vision outlined by Quad leaders during the summit in September last year, marking the deepening of joint operations among the Indian Coast Guard, the Japan Coast Guard, the United States Coast Guard, and the Australian Border Force.”
It further stated, “India’s participation strengthens maritime strategic vision and supplements the ‘Indo-Pacific Ocean Initiative (IPOI)’,” emphasizing capacity building, humanitarian outreach, and maritime rule of law in the quad joint patrol mission.