India and QUAD in the Indo-Pacific Region: A Perspective on Maritime Security

The Indo-Pacific Region, which accommodates many of the world’s rapidly growing economies, has evolved into one of the most critical geostrategic regions. Due to its geopolitical and economic significance, the region is emerging as a hotspot in 21st-century global politics. The presence of China and its aggressive attitude toward the South China Sea and Indian Ocean Region, ‘maritime security,’ has become one of the most critical concerns for all the major and minor players alike for an unrestricted Indo-Pacific Region. The overall security landscape of this region and India’s position within and outside the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) hold great significance to counterbalance the overarching dominance of China in the region. From a nascent dialogue in 2007, QUAD reinvented itself in 2017 after a decadal hiatus in response to the evolving multifaceted challenges in this region. This article explores the challenges faced by QUAD and India’s role in maritime security initiatives, emphasizing how its contributions strengthen a rule-based, free, and open Indo-Pacific Region.