Quad A Significant Initiative In Indo-Pacific Region, Say US Admiral, Lawmakers

Senator Tim Kaine welcomed the Quad vaccine initiative and vaccine development in India that could be used for supply to other countries in the region.

Rallying behind President Joe Biden's Quad Security Dialogue initiative involving leaders from Australia, India and Japan, a top US admiral and influential Senators described it as a significant effort to address the challenge posed by China and ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) is an important venue for four Indo-Pacific democracies with common values to address shared interests, Admiral John C. Aquilino told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee during a confirmation hearing for commander, US Indo-Pacific Command. Addressing political, economic, and development opportunities will inform security priorities and increase the likelihood for more collaborative military-to-military activity among the four nations. Challenges to the Quad could come in information-space activity by any nation threatened by its objectives, he said. Quad countries -- the US, India, Australia and Japan -- held their first virtual summit on March 12 during which President Joe Biden told leaders of the coalition that a "free and open" Indo-Pacific is essential to their countries and that his country was committed to working with its partners and allies in the region to achieve stability.