Quad celebrates 20 years of cooperation, highlights grouping origins in 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami

Washington: India, Australia, Japan, and the United States commemorated the 20th anniversary of Quad cooperation by highlighting the group’s roots in the 2004 earthquake and tsunami in the Indian Ocean. The four countries reiterated their common goal for an Indo-Pacific region that is free, open, and wealthy, highlighting the Quad’s transformation from a disaster relief relationship to a strategic partnership.

“Twenty years ago, in response to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, Australia, India, Japan, and the United States came together in service to the people of our region for the first time as the grouping now known as the Quad,” the group said in a joint statement issued by the Secretary of State of the United States of America and the foreign ministers of Australia, India, and Japan. One of the greatest natural catastrophes in history, the tsunami killed around a quarter of a million people and forced 1.7 million to relocate across 14 nations. In order to assist the millions of people impacted by the disaster, our four nations together sent more than 40,000 emergency responders, along with other partners around the Indo-Pacific area. We pay tribute to the departed and acknowledge the families and survivors of those who passed away.”

“We continue to have a strong foundational commitment to disaster relief and humanitarian assistance,” the statement continued. We are still collaborating to prepare for catastrophes and provide prompt, efficient responses around the area. Our four nations worked together to support life-saving relief and disaster preparation initiatives around the Indo-Pacific in 2024, and we’re now building on that work to find innovative methods to react quickly to catastrophes and humanitarian crises.”

The organization said that the Quad has changed over the last 20 years from a disaster relief cooperation to a vibrant alliance dedicated to tackling the Indo-Pacific region’s problems.

“What started as an emergency reaction to a disaster has developed into full-fledged cooperation that benefits our region’s residents. Today, the Quad nations collaborate with partners throughout the Indo-Pacific region to tackle a variety of complex issues, such as combating pandemics, cancer, and climate change, as well as enhancing cybersecurity, critical and emerging technologies, STEM education, maritime domain awareness, quality infrastructure, and counterterrorism initiatives. In order to promote the Quad’s beneficial contributions across South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific, the leaders of our four countries have convened yearly since 2021,” the joint statement said.

The countries in the joint statement said that, as four partners, they have the same vision of a peaceful, prosperous, and open Indo-Pacific that is supported by strong regional institutions. “We reiterate our steadfast support for mainstreaming and implementing the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, as well as for ASEAN’s unity and centrality. We value regional architecture that is headed by the Pacific, especially the Pacific Islands Forum. We also remain committed to supporting the leading organization in the area, the Indian Ocean Rim Association. According to the statement, the Quad is dedicated to cooperating to address the region’s future requirements.

Australia, India, Japan, and the United States form the Quad, a diplomatic alliance dedicated to promoting an inclusive, resilient, and open Indo-Pacific. Our partnership in reaction to the Indian Ocean tsunami in December 2004 is where the Quad got its start.

In 2021, the first Quad Leaders’ Summit was held virtually. On September 24, 2021, the second Quad Leaders’ Summit—the first to be attended in person—took place in Washington, DC. On March 3, 2022, the third Quad Leaders’ Summit took place virtually. On May 24, 2022, Japan hosted the fourth Quad Leaders’ Summit, the second of which was held in person. On May 20, 2023, the third in-person Quad Leaders’ Summit took place in Hiroshima, Japan.