After the first in-person summit of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or Quad, in Washington in September 2021, the leaders of Quad, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida have decided to hold a virtual summit on Thursday. In the Quad Leader’s virtual meeting, the discussions against the backdrop of the crisis in Ukraine, and China’s continued assertive actions across the Indo-Pacific region will be held.
The Ministry said that the meeting will include exchange of views and assessments about significant developments in the Indo-Pacific, alongwith reviewing ongoing efforts to implement the Leader’s initiatives announced as part of the Quad’s contemporary and positive agenda.
The leaders of the four nations, India, Japan, The U.S. and Australia, gave shape to the long-pending proposal of setting up the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or Quad, to develop a new strategy to keep the critical sea routes in the Indo- Pacific dree of any influence as China’s growing military presence in the strategic region continued to cause rustle.
India continues to be on a precarious course with its long-standing relationship with Russia on one hand, and its strengthened ties with the US over the past years. The US Biden administration has been trying to urge India to take a “clear position” on the Ukraine crisis.
India has been focused on the possibility of a diplomatic resolution of this conflict. With around 18,000 Indian students stranded and stuck amidst the crisis in Ukraine, efforts to work with both the Governments of Ukraine and Russia are being made to safeguard the students.
India has also reached out to Russia for help in bringing the stranded students and its citizens back, stuck in war-hit Ukraine.
The Ministry of External Affairs in its statement made no reference to the crisis triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, though the issue is expected to come up in the upcoming summit.
While Australia, Japan, and the US have all imposed sanctions on Russia, India does not have a policy of sanctions. However, India has called for respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states at the UN.
