Quad and AUKUS targets are clear as black and white. Only one can reduce China’s power

Form of words:
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TeaThe first individual meeting of the ‘Quad’ of India, USA, Australia and Japan is now over, and a comprehensive joint statement issued. And no, it’s no longer called the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue. An unnamed senior administrative official, who opted to give the briefing a few hours earlier, told Quad “informal grouping“There is no military or security dimension to it. In response to further questions he clearly stated that Quad and Aux were quite different and had nothing to do with each other. This will serve to pacify those who have been calling the Quad ‘Asian NATO’. But even so, the quad has what is essentially an a la carte menu, leaving each member to bring to the table what he or she chooses. Compare the two to understand its potential and understand the purpose of each.

written word

First, check what’s in black and white. AUKUS, which includes Australia, the UK and the US, is intended to Having said As expressly stated by the Joint Statement, which specifically calls it an “enhanced tripartite security partnership” to “strengthen each’s ability to support our security and defense interests”. It doesn’t get more clear than this. But it also adds that the signatories “resolve to deepen diplomatic, security and defense cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region” also to be done “by working with partners”. This means that each can be a node to bolster security interests with other like-minded countries.

Watch now fact sheet Why Quad? Not a word on the military aspect though joint statement states “we will continue to comply with international law, particularly as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea … to meet the challenges of a rules-based order of the sea, including in the East and South China Seas”. This cannot be achieved by simply raising a finger. It needs some height and strength. Moreover, any display of muscle mass or standing on international forums, cannot be done by just one country, not even America. It requires a certain critical mass. But here’s what’s important. It is not mandatory for any member to step up.

Read also: AUKUS AND AFGHANISTAN – Now is the time for the Modi government to deploy every diplomatic instinct

Base organization and cost

Now consider the organizations that underpin each. The AUKUS countries are already bound by the covering of mutual defense treaties. Australia is not part of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation), but has signed Individual Partnership and Collaboration Programs (with limited commitments) and has been part of NATO operations including Afghanistan. It is an “advanced opportunity partner” along with others working with NATO on the ground. Simply put, this means that Australia exercises, carries weapons and uses communication platforms that allow for interoperability with any or all NATO countries. Quite separately, Australia and the US have worked together since 1918, formalized through a security treaty (ANZUS) in 1951, but which is not specifically committed to mutual defense. Australia also cooperates closely with the US on missile defense, and has some 580 Defense personnel across America, embedded with the US military.

UK has its mutual defense agreement 1958, expanded in 2004, effectively allowing the US to complement the UK nuclear effort. America has something 9,000 personnel in shared RAF bases in the UK, while British officers are deployed in various roles in the US. Incidentally, America has long funded On various projects in Northern Ireland and his meeting with President Joe Biden Prime Minister Boris Johnson “Reiterates our long-standing support for a safe and prosperous Northern Ireland in which all communities have a voice and take advantage of hard-earned peace”. This is just to underline that there is a price to be paid for a “special relationship”. Similarly, Australia opted for US nuclear-powered submarines, ensuring that it remained tied to the US for decades to come, even if submarine production would take place sometime in 2040.

Compare this to the quad. At the moment, there is no secretariat for this group and there is not likely to be. Instead, it works through a series of bipartisanship between the members. For India, this means a 2+2 framework (Defence and Foreign Ministers), which has now been strengthened by the two summits. Those bilaterals cover a lot, including defense ties. Consider US-India joint statement That ‘welcomes’ Australia’s involvement in US-India-Japan naval exercises, hosting various Indo-Pacific conferences such as one of the army chiefs, positioning of liaison officers at key nodes and cooperation in the defense industry. with the first 2+2 Australia Welcoming the Quad, invitations to military exercises and joint participation in the defense industry have similar clauses. For example, this 2+2 structure is repeated Japan and Australia. And each of these is served by important ministries on a bilateral basis. India has also signed logistics agreements with each of the four fundamental agreements With the US, it brings to the network of information-sharing and geospatial information with others. Add to this a series of exercises, and there is some limited interactivity, which is only likely to increase as India buys more US defense equipment, including some according to one account. $22 billion over the last decade, and possibly another $10 billion waiting to be signed.

But here’s the thing. Interoperability is still limited, especially as New Delhi insists on continuing to buy Russian equipment such as the S-400; is not an Indian in any US or other facility; And the Quad countries do not work together on the ground for any extended period of time. Important joint actions such as the “Malabar” naval exercise began in 1992, and have nothing to do with the Quad per se. And finally, in defense equipment, we are bound by many countries, a questionable privilege but less dangerous than being tied to just one.

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So what Is Quad currently?

To understand how important the Quad is, consider not only the areas of cooperation outlined in the joint statement – ​​including the production of a billion vaccines, cyber security, the climate crisis and other issues – but also a separate agreement on development . NS Important and emerging technologies, which calls for not only supply chain management but also fair market and non-use of technology for harassment. There is no prize for guessing what it is intended for. All this becomes important when one thing is considered. No one is going to go to war with China. As a substantial nuclear power, this is a huge risk that cannot even be considered. When that uncomfortable reality is accepted, it becomes clear that the only way to limit Chinese power is really through all the initiatives outlined in the Quad documents that scuttle China as the world’s supermarket. . As the unnamed ‘senior administration official’ put it, the Quad is not a security group. It really doesn’t have to be. Leave it to AUKUS. They welcome it. . And here is the best part. an institution that indirectly limits China as well as manufactures self-reliant India suits Delhi right off the ground, even as flexing of the muscles is done elsewhere. Quad and Aux complement each other. That’s the bottom line.

The author is a Distinguished Fellow at the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, New Delhi. She tweets @kartha_tara. Thoughts are personal.

(Edited by Neera Mazumdar)

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