Wilmington Declaration

23 September 2024

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Wilmington Declaration : The quad companies recently in their “The Wilmington Declaration Joint Statement” said that the grouping is force for good and more strategically aligned than ever.

The Wilmington Declaration, issued after the Quad leaders’ meeting in Biden’s hometown, addressed China’s aggressive manoeuvres in the South and East China Seas without explicitly naming the nation. It expressed serious concerns over the “militarization” of disputed features and “coercive and intimidating manoeuvres” in these maritime regions.

Points to be noted from Wilmington Declaration :

Indo- pacific peace and stability

Quad is responsible for opposing destability and unilateral actions in the region.
The quad supports maritime democracies standing for peace , stability and rule of law.
Wilmington Declaration confirms the importance of maintaining peace in the indo-pacific for the security and prosperity.

2. Humanitarian Assistance and disaster relief

Focuses on rapid response to natural disasters.
Pre positioning of relief supplies from the indian ocean to pacific.

3. Maritime security initiatives

Launched the maritime initiative for training in Indo-pacific(MAITRI).
First ever Quad-at-sea ship observer Mission planned for 2025.
The aim is to strengthen regional partner’s maritime capabilities and enforcing laws.

4. Quality infrastructure and Logistics Network

The Quad Ports of the Future Partnership: The inaugural Regional Ports and Transportation Conference will be hosted by India in Mumbai in 2025 and aims to harness the Quad’s expertise to support sustainable and resilient port infrastructure development across the Indo-Pacific.
Climate and Clean Energy:
- Solar projects: India has pledged an investment of around $2 million in new solar projects in Fiji, Comoros, Madagascar, and Seychelles.
- Quad Clean Energy Supply Chains Diversification Program: The Programme will support projects which develop and diversify solar panel, hydrogen electrolyzer and battery supply chains.
AI and Technology: The United States plans to invest over $7 million to support the global expansion of Asia Open RAN Academy (AORA), by partnering with Indian institutions for training projects.

About The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) Wilmington Declaration:

The Quad is a diplomatic and Informal partnership between Australia, India, Japan, and the United States committed to supporting an open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific that is inclusive and resilient.
- Origins: It dates back to the collaboration between the 4 countries on disaster relief efforts in response to the December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
  - 2007: The PM of Japan, Shinzo Abe, formalised the alliance, as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue or the Quad.
  - 2017: The QUAD was revived with the focus shifting to the Indo-Pacific region to counter China’s growing assertiveness there. Over the years, the Quad has formed multiple working groups.
  - 2020: Australia joined the trilateral India-US-Japan Malabar naval exercises, marking the first official grouping of the Quad since 2017, and the first joint military exercises among the four countries in over a decade.
  - 2021: A joint statement titled ‘The Spirit of the Quad,’ outlining the group’s approach and objectives was released in a virtual leaders summit.
    - The first in-person meeting was held in Washington DC, later that year.
- Informal Nature of the Organisation:
  - Lacks Governing Bodies: The QUAD doesn’t host a secretariat or any permanent decision-making body like the EU or UN, instead focuses on expanding existing agreements.
- The Objective: The group primarily focuses on maritime security, rules-based global order, freedom of navigation and a liberal trading system. The coalition also aims to offer alternative debt financing for nations in the Indo-Pacific region.
- QUAD+: The QUAD grouping could also undergo expansion through a QUAD Plus Framework including countries like South Korea, New Zealand, and Vietnam, amongst others.
Significance of Wilmington Declaration:
- To Secure Sea Routes of Communication: QUAD has emerged as a new strategy to keep the critical sea routes in the resource-rich Indo-Pacific, free of any influence, amidst China’s growing military presence in the strategic region.
- Contain China: QUAD can strategically counter China’s economic and military coercion as India can take the support of the other Quad nations in the event of Chinese belligerence on its border or naval front and can also conduct strategic explorations in the Indo-Pacific region.
- Multilateral engagement: India recently has adopted the strategy of Multi- Alignment from Non-Alignment presenting an opportunity to work multilaterally on all kinds of initiatives that can help create, a free and open Indo Pacific region.
- Make a presence in Indo- Pacific: India through engagement with QUAD countries can make inroads in the political landscape of the Indo- Pacific area expanding its Trade prospects, security role, overall global standing.