Underlining the high level of synergy among the navies of the Quadrilateral countries, Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh on Wednesday said these forces can come together in a plug-and-play mechanism in case of a military need in the Indio-Pacific region.
Making this observation here during the ongoing three-day Raisina Dialogue, the Navy chief said there is immense interoperability between the navies of the Quad grouping.
His remarks came months after the Quad navies including India, US, Japan and Australia carried out the Malabar series of naval drills off the Indian coast.
Participating in the Dialogue inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, Admiral Philip Scot Davidson, Commander of the US’s Indo-Pacific Command, identified the Quad as a strategic opportunity diplomatically, military and economically, as he designated China as “the greatest strategic threat” to rules-based international order.
The two Navy top commanders during the conclave held virtually discussed the potential of the Quad and agreed that there are many new spheres of engagement where the grouping can come together and also include more like-minded countries.
Asked about the future of Quad military in terms of joint patrolling and others, the Indian Navy chief said the Quad started as a consultative grouping and has evolved and grown organically. “There is no dearth of issues that it can handle and we have a robust engagement with the navies of all Quad members,” he said.
The Navy chief said the Quad navies already enjoy high degree of interoperability and highlighted that the Malabar exercise started with the US in 1992.
Similarly, he pointed out that India has been carrying bilateral naval exercises with Japan since 2012 and with the Australian Navy for the last six years. “So if an opportunity arises, we have the capability and capacity to come together in almost a plug and play mechanism,” he said.
The US Navy commander said the Quad has tremendous potential for cooperation, going far beyond the security sphere. “The vaccine approach is a powerful signal to the region that the Quad is working for the common good outside these four countries,” he said.
Noting that the Quad has gained momentum, Davidson said, “It’s a diamond of democracies in region… We should think about it in broadest possible terms.”
He also said China seeks to exploit the current global pandemic with increased military aggression throughout the Indo-Pacific. He added that China’s intent is to undermine international law and norms.