So India is in Quad, the security dialogue with US, Australia and Japan. Nato is a full blown alliance and Sweden and Finland want to join. Russia says it doesn’t need the West, it has China. You can see how this is all playing out?
Alliance can be good, they can keep the peace and stop attacks on members. But they can drag you into wars too for the commitments you’ve made. It’s why the US will not commit to defending Taiwan with boots on the ground.
India and Australia have never been closer strategically than now. India thinks much more like the West now on it’s willingness to have hard and soft alliances against China.
India-Japan trilateral maritime security
India, Japan and the United States are conducted trilateral maritime exercises in the Bay of Bengal as part of the Malabar series some time ago. This is the first time that the US has participated in this annual military exercise.
The latest drill involved ships from India, Japan and United States – 27 vessels from India, 7 from Japan and 4 from US including nuclear submarines.
India Japan Australia
Trilateral engagement with Australia has been a key element of India’s strategic and economic engagement with Asia. Trilateral engagements, including the annual naval exercise, have been instrumental to sustaining India’s relations with Japan as well as strengthening its ties with Australia.
The trilateral relationship has also generated positive results for India-Japan relations by providing an opportunity for regular high level meetings between leaders from all three countries, which were not possible in bilateral settings due to the historical baggage that exists between Tokyo and New Delhi.
This alongside free trade agreements clearly shows how much India and indeed the world has moved and in which direction.
India and the Quad
India has a strong history of strategic autonomy, and this position makes it difficult for India to take on a role that would officially commit it to a conflict not of its making. The Quad is not likely to elicit formal commitment from New Delhi because it would threaten this autonomy.
US India partnership in the Indo Pacific region
The US and India partnership in the Indo Pacific region is becoming increasingly important.
The Quad was created by four countries: Australia, Japan, India and the United States. Its main goal is to ensure safety in the Indian Ocean.
Some will see the Quad as a provocation to China as they see Nato as a provocation to Russia. But Russia and China have an old pre-cold War view of the world. Theirs is a view of the world of Great Powers who can take territory as they please. The West is trying to bring a legal order to the world – always seeking UN resolutions before action.
For Russia, small countries like Ukraine have limited rights. Or indeed Taiwan or Hong Kong for China.
Key points
India has long been wary of China’s increasing military presence in South Asia – particularly its Belt & Road Initiative (BRI). BRI involves building ports and railways across Asia into Europe via a web of Chinese-built roads and railways connecting China with Europe through Central Asia.
India also has concerns over increasing Chinese investment in countries like Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
Conclusion
India sees real benefits in the Quad. It is, fundamentally, good for Indian security and better for its economy. India will not be cowed by Chinese threats and will continue to pursue its own national interests as it sees fit. The US should reward this behavior by providing all possible support, including arming India with advanced weapons systems that are critical to protecting the country from China and Pakistan. The US can also help India upgrade its cyber capabilities—India has been shockingly weak in cyber defense, which could be a major weakness against China’s relentless cyber offensive capabilities.
