The year gone by, the Quad’s year of interregnum, Pg6

Key Highlights:

• In 2025, the Quad faced challenges due to global geopolitical shifts and the return of President Donald Trump.
• Despite these challenges, the Quad maintained its focus on a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.
• A leader-level summit, scheduled to be hosted by India, did not occur in 2025.
• Initiatives like the Quad-at-Sea: Ship Observer Mission and the Ports of the Future Partnership remained active.
• The 'Malabar' naval exercise was held in Guam, enhancing maritime cooperation.

Detailed Insights:

• The Quad's revival in 2017 gained momentum under the Trump administration, despite initial concerns about the "America First" policy.
• The U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio hosted Foreign Minister-level summits in January and July 2025, signaling the Quad's importance to the U.S.
• The Quad-at-Sea: Ship Observer Mission was operationalized in June 2025 to enhance Coast Guard-level cooperation.
• The Ports of the Future Partnership held its first meeting in Mumbai in October 2025, promoting sustainable port infrastructure.
• Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has not attended a Quad engagement since assuming office in October 2025.
• The U.S. Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, stated that diplomatic efforts are ongoing to hold a leader-level summit in early 2026.
• Leader-level summits are crucial for fostering bonhomie and achieving strategic convergence within the Quad.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Indo-Pacific: A strategic region encompassing the Indian and Pacific Oceans, central to geopolitical competition.
• Rules-based order: An international system where interactions are governed by agreed-upon rules and norms.
• Strategic Convergence: Alignment of interests and objectives among different actors to achieve common goals.