Quad power

The grouping still needs a cohesive agenda and structure

Tuesday’s meeting in Tokyo of foreign ministers of India, Australia, Japan and the United States for the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue or Quad suggests that the grouping is gaining some traction at last. Formed in 2007 following the coordination between these four democracies in relief work during the 2004 Tsunami and a maritime exercise, the grouping went into limbo owing to Australia’s reluctance to antagonise China then. Its revival in 2017 has been a response to China’s rising assertiveness in the region. This is the second ministerial meeting between Quad countries since then, giving the grouping a higher profile — the