The 4th Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) Summit took place on May 24, 2022, in Tokyo, Japan. It was the 4th one in line with the maiden summit taking place about over a year ago. The Quad allies agreed upon the need for practical cooperation and coordination keeping in view both the regional (Indo-Pacific) and global affairs like Russia-Ukraine conflict and Covid-19. The summit came to an end with a pledge to meet again in 2023 in Australia.[2] The Summit was held at a critical time with ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and the growing global inflation. The occasion was used to respond collectively to the current regional and global issues.
The Joint Statement: An Overall Summary
A special focus was put on the importance of resisting any “unilateral attempt at disrupting the status quo.”[3] The stance was kept particularly in the context of Russia and to a greater extent China. All the four leaders acknowledged the importance of keeping a check on China in the Indo-Pacific. They condemned the Chinese activities in the East and South China Seas and emphasized the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in the region. They manifested their faith in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions as a solution to the bilateral and international conflicts. The allies agreed upon the denuclearization of North Korea. The allies have also recalled the terrorist activities like the Mumbai Incident and Pathankot Attacks, and urged that such events are never repeated. Moreover, the Myanmar issue was raised, and discussed the importance of democratic values. It was believed that peace in Afghanistan can lead to peace in the region. They pledged their support to the Western-Pacific nations in terms of infrastructure and security providence. A “strong support for the Asean unity” was the slogan used repeatedly. The Covid-19 related imperatives and other boiling contemporary issues like climate change were also raised.[4]
