SQUAD & QUAD: A Dual Security Strategy
The Indo-Pacific region faces growing security challenges, driven largely by China’s expanding military influence. Two key alliances, the SQUAD and the QUAD, have emerged as pivotal players in addressing these challenges. While SQUAD focuses on traditional military threats, QUAD is carving its niche in non-traditional security issues. Together, they aim to create a free and open Indo-Pacific order.
QUAD’s Broad Vision: Tackling Non-Traditional Security
The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) started as a humanitarian task force in 2004. Its roots lie in disaster response, with nations like the US, India, Japan, and Australia coming together to address the aftermath of the Indian Ocean tsunami. Over the years, QUAD evolved into a strategic alliance addressing broader issues, including cybersecurity, vaccine diplomacy, and climate change.
Military Shift and Limitations
As China’s maritime assertiveness grew, QUAD incorporated military elements, including the Malabar naval exercises. These drills demonstrated a unified stance against Chinese aggression in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. However, QUAD’s vast geographical scope and strategic differences among members limited its effectiveness in countering China’s military buildup in sensitive areas like the South China Sea.
India’s focus on its border disputes with China and its policy of strategic autonomy also posed challenges. Unlike its QUAD partners, India hesitated to frame the alliance as an anti-China bloc. These factors created gaps in addressing traditional military threats, highlighting the need for a more targeted approach.
SQUAD Focus: Addressing Traditional Military Security
Formation of SQUAD
In March 2024, the SQUAD was formed, comprising the US, Japan, Australia, and the Philippines. Unlike QUAD, SQUAD has a specific focus on countering China’s military activities in the South China Sea. With its geographical proximity and military alliances, the Philippines plays a central role in this effort.
Philippines as a Strategic Player
The Philippines, under its new leadership, has adopted a bold stance against China’s gray-zone tactics. Its location near critical maritime routes gives SQUAD a strategic advantage. As a US treaty ally, the Philippines is equipped to act as a forward base, providing SQUAD with the reach needed to address China’s territorial transgressions effectively.
Military-Driven Approach
SQUAD’s mission is clear: safeguard the South China Sea from Chinese incursions. Unlike QUAD’s broad-based objectives, SQUAD’s singular focus on traditional security ensures a sharper response to military challenges. This approach complements QUAD’s efforts in non-traditional security areas, creating a balanced security framework for the region.
India’s Role: Supporting Rather Than Leading Militarily
India’s position in QUAD reflects its policy of maintaining strategic independence. While India avoids direct military posturing against China, it supports allies like the Philippines by providing BrahMos missiles and participating in naval exercises. This “combat-support role” allows India to contribute to regional security without jeopardising its ties with China.
Strengthening Regional Partnerships
India’s collaborations with Southeast Asian nations, including defense exports and concessional loans, reinforce its commitment to a secure Indo-Pacific. These efforts align with QUAD’s mission to address non-traditional security issues, positioning India as a vital partner in shaping the region’s future.
Complementary Roles: Harmonising SQUAD and QUAD
Traditional vs. Non-Traditional Security
SQUAD’s focus on military security in the South China Sea allows QUAD to take the lead on non-traditional issues. These include cybersecurity, space research, and maritime infrastructure. Together, these alliances address a wide spectrum of threats, ensuring comprehensive regional security.
Strengthening Alliances
The emergence of SQUAD strengthens the Indo-Pacific’s defense architecture. For instance, SQUAD’s military exercises in contested waters send a strong message to China. Meanwhile, QUAD’s initiatives in artificial intelligence and STEM research address emerging challenges like robotic warfare.
A Unified Vision
China’s growing military capabilities have accelerated the need for collaborative strategies. SQUAD and QUAD represent two sides of the same coin, working towards a free and open Indo-Pacific. Their complementary roles highlight the importance of unity in addressing traditional and non-traditional threats.
SQAUD & QUAD: A Balanced Security Framework
The Indo-Pacific’s security challenges are multi-dimensional, requiring coordinated responses. SQUAD’s military focus and QUAD’s expertise in non-traditional security create a balanced framework to address these threats. By leveraging their strengths, these alliances can ensure peace and stability in one of the world’s most critical regions. Together, they represent a new era of cooperation, proving that unity is the key to overcoming shared challenges.