AUKUS not relevant, doesn’t have any impact on functioning of QUAD: India
By Anish Kumar | First Published Sep 21, 2021, 5:21 PM ISTAddressing the media persons here, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said, “QUAD and AUKUS are not groupings of a similar nature.
New Delhi: A day after the US briefed New Delhi about the recently signed AUKUS agreement with Australia and the UK, India on Tuesday said AUKUS is not relevant from its perspective and also doesn’t have any impact on the functioning of the QUAD.
QUAD is a grouping of four nations that home in the Indo-Pacific region, which the Chinese sees it as a block to contain its influence in the region. The grouping vouches for an free, open, transparent and inclusive Indo-Pacific region based on international law and order.
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Addressing the media persons here, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said, “QUAD and AUKUS are not groupings of a similar nature. The QUAD is plurilateral grouping – a group of countries that have a shared vision of their attributes and values… QUAD designed to cater to requirements of the Indo-Pacific region. AUKUS is a security alliance of three nations. We are not a party to this alliance. From our perspective, it is neither relevant nor it will have any impact on its functioning.”
Informing about the QUAD’s initiatives, he said, “It has adopted a positive pro-active agenda that has wide array of initiatives at the global level to address some of the issues of the day, this include dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic, including supply of vaccines to Indo-pacific region. It include working on new emerging technologies, it include working on issues like climate change, infrastructure, maritime security, education and HADR.”
As experts feel, with signing of AUKUS agreement, grouping like QUAD would have no relevance.
As per the newly signed trilateral alliance, the 'AUKUS' grouping would assist Australia in procuring nuclear-powered submarines and deal with China's military assertiveness in the strategically important Indo-pacific region.
Also read: PM Narendra Modi to meet US President Joe Biden on September 24
“We undertake this effort as part of a larger constellation of steps, including stronger bilateral partnerships with our traditional security partners in Asia — Japan, South Korea, Thailand, the Philippines — and also stronger engagement with new partners like India, Vietnam, and new formations like the QUAD,” the White House had said in a statement.
Informing about the itinerary of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shringla said he would leave for the US on September 22, where he will attend the Covid-19 Summit.
On September 24, he will hold bilateral talk with the US President, Joe Biden. The prime minister also holds bilateral discussions with his counterparts from Australia and Japan.
On the same day, the heads of QUAD member nations will meet to discuss the Indo-Pacific region among others.
On September 25, the prime minister will address the 76th session of United Nations General Assembly in New York. Cross border terrorism, current situation in Afghanistan, climate change, emerging technologies will be key issues to be discussed during his visit to the US.
Shringla, further, said it is his first visit to any foreign nation beyond neighbouring country – Bangladesh.
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