India is now buckling up for naval exercises with the “Quad” countries and other key strategic allies, even as US secretary of defence Lloyd Austin who arrived in New Delhi on Friday, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and conveyed Washington’s “strong desire” to further enhance the strategic partnership for peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.
The Quadrilateral grouping are moving forward with their agenda for ensuring a “free and open” Indo-Pacific by working with other countries, as India and Australia are scheduled to hold two key trilateral ministerial meetings in New Delhi next month.
External affairs minister S Jaishankar and Australian foreign minister Marise Payne are also set to hold separate meetings with their French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian and Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi on the sidelines of the annual Raisina Dialogue from April 13 to 15.
These meetings are expected to focus on the concerns related to maritime security and focusing on mutual challenges across the region. On the other hand, France is seen as a natural fit for working with Quad as it has 1.5 million citizens on island territories within the Indo-Pacific.
Quad-plus France Naval Exercise
The navies of India, US, Japan and Australia will join France for its “La Perouse” exercise in the Bay of Bengal from April 4 to 7.
India will deploy frontline warships and P-8I maritime patrol aircraft for what is being dubbed as a “Quad-plus France” manoeuvre, and the five countries will delineate their naval strength and commitment to freedom of navigation by practicing complex drills.
Furthermore, bilateral “Varuna” naval exercise between India and France will also be expanded to include UAE in the northwest Arabian Sea near the strategically-located Persian Gulf from April 25 to 27.
France, Germany, UK and some other countries are all keen to cooperate with the Quad countries, which had also conducted the 24thedition of the `Malabar’ naval exercise in November, to keep the Indo-Pacific secure.
New Delhi has also inked reciprocal military logistics pacts with the other three Quad nations as well as France, South Korea and Singapore to enhance its strategic reach in the entire Indian Ocean region and beyond.
The Quad Vaccine push
At the same time, work has begun under the Quadrilateral vaccine initiative, which combines the scientific, medical, financing, manufacturing, and development capabilities of India, Australia, Japan, and US to roll out a billion COVID-19 vaccines by 2022.
The production of vaccines will begin at Indian facilities as early as the second quarter of 2021. Under the partnership, vaccines developed by US companies will be made in India with funding from the US and Japan, while Australia will provide “last mile” delivery support with focus on South-east Asia.
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