Quad Leaders’ Summit: Key Highlights

Context: The sixth Quad Leaders’ Summit took place in Wilmington, Delaware, focusing on international cooperation, security, climate, health, and technological innovation.

Major Discussions:

• UN Security Council Reform: Emphasis on making the UNSC more representative and inclusive by expanding both permanent and non-permanent members.
• Support for Rules-Based International Order: Reaffirmation of principles such as sovereignty, territorial integrity, and peaceful dispute resolution, particularly regarding the Indo-Pacific region.
• South China Sea Concerns: The leaders expressed worries about militarization, coercive maneuvers, and the aggressive use of maritime forces in the region.

Initiatives Announced:

1. Disease Prevention:
   • Quad Cancer Moonshot: Focused on cervical cancer, with India pledging $7.5 million worth of HPV kits and vaccines.
   • Mpox (formerly Monkeypox) Response: Efforts to make affordable vaccines available across the Indo-Pacific.
   • Digital Public Infrastructure: Launched principles for equitable development and deployment of digital systems to improve public service delivery.
2. Climate and Clean Energy:
   • Early Warning Systems: Expanded access to high-quality climate data for Pacific Island nations.
   • Clean Energy Supply Chains: India committed to $2 million in solar projects in Fiji, Comoros, Madagascar, and Seychelles, while the U.S. pledged over $750 million in loans for solar manufacturing in India.
3. People-Based Initiatives:
   • Quad Scholarships: India announced fifty scholarships for students from the Indo-Pacific to pursue engineering degrees.
4. Maritime Security & Logistics:
   • MAITRI (Regional Maritime Initiative for Training): A project to enhance maritime security in the Indo-Pacific, with the first workshop to be held in India in 2025.
   • Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network: A pilot project to improve disaster response by pooling airlift resources.
   • Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission: A 2025 initiative involving coast guards from Quad nations to enhance regional maritime cooperation.
5. Science & Technology:
   • Track 1.5 Dialogues on AI: Dialogues involving government and non-governmental experts on AI and communication technologies.
   • BioExplore Initiative: A $2 million joint project to study ecosystems using AI.
   • Asia Open RAN Academy (AORA): Expansion of global programs on Open Radio Access Networks.
6. Ports & Infrastructure:
   • Quad Ports of the Future Partnership: A collaboration to develop sustainable port infrastructure in the Indo-Pacific.
   • Semiconductor Supply Chain Cooperation: Strengthening semiconductor supply chains to enhance resilience in the Quad countries.
7. Cybersecurity:
   • Quad Action Plan: A plan to protect undersea telecommunications cables, advancing digital connectivity and security in global commerce.