A mega Quad vaccine initiative with India as the key will be one of the main outcomes of the first-ever <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/with-an-eye-on-china-biden-to-hold-first-summit-with-india-australia-japan-369834">Quad</a> grouping's leadership summit.

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The leaders of the Quad - Indian PM Narendra Modi, Australia's PM Scott Morrison, Japan's PM Yoshihide Suga&nbsp;and US President Joe&nbsp;Biden will be meeting at 7pm&nbsp;virtually.

Sources told WION that the Quad vaccine initiative will basically function as "vaccines developed in the US, manufactured in India, financed by Japan and US, and supported by Australia" and will allow "new manufacturing capacity to be added" in India for exports to the Indo-Pacific region.

India has been playing a major role in terms of providing COVID-19&nbsp;vaccines to the global community and so far sent vaccines to 69 countries. The total vaccines India has sent, both as gift and commercial is at 585.30 lakh doses. This number includes 1 lakh doses sent to UN Health workers.

Sources explained, "Our role in the Quad vaccine initiative will project and reinforce India’s credentials as a trusted, reliable manufacturer and supplier of quality vaccines."

"It will appreciably expand our vaccine maitri effort" and "strengthen India’s standing.... as a critical node in global health supply chains, and as a selfless contributor to global health security," the source added.

India produces 60 per cent&nbsp;of global vaccines and amid the COVID-19&nbsp;pandemic has been termed the “pharmacy of the world”.

Last year it sent medicines such as HCQ and Paracetamol to around 150 countries to deal with covid. Interestingly, the Quad+ initiative at the foreign secretary-level regularly met virtually in 2020 to share best practices to deal with the crisis.

Pointing out, sources said, "pooling of individual capacities and strengths by Quad countries" is aimed at "expediting global vaccine delivery" and will help meet the "demand-supply gap, focusing on the Indo-Pacific region."

Beijing sees Quad as "anti China"&nbsp;grouping, something dismissed by member countries.

In the backdrop of Chinese views, the sources said Quad’s "model of enlightened, humanitarian collective action" through the supply of COVID-19 vaccines will "offer a template for peace, cooperation and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region".

A mega Quad vaccine initiative with India as the key will be one of the main outcomes of the first-ever Quad grouping's leadership summit. Watch: The leaders of the Quad - Indian PM Narendra Modi, Australia's PM Scott Morrison, Japan's PM Yoshihide Suga and US President Joe Biden will be meeting at 7pm virtually.

A mega Quad vaccine initiative with India as the key will be one of the main outcomes of the first-ever Quad grouping's leadership summit. Watch: The leaders of the Quad - Indian PM Narendra Modi, Australia's PM Scott Morrison, Japan's PM Yoshihide Suga and US President Joe Biden will be meeting at 7pm virtually. Sources told WION that the Quad vaccine initiative will basically function as "vaccines developed in the US, manufactured in India, financed by Japan and US, and supported by Australia" and will allow "new manufacturing capacity to be added" in India for exports to the Indo-Pacific region. India has been playing a major role in terms of providing COVID-19 vaccines to the global community and so far sent vaccines to 69 countries. The total vaccines India has sent, both as gift and commercial is at 585.30 lakh doses. This number includes 1 lakh doses sent to UN Health workers. Sources explained, "Our role in the Quad vaccine initiative will project and reinforce India’s credentials as a trusted, reliable manufacturer and supplier of quality vaccines." "It will appreciably expand our vaccine maitri effort" and "strengthen India’s standing.... as a critical node in global health supply chains, and as a selfless contributor to global health security," the source added. India produces 60 per cent of global vaccines and amid the COVID-19 pandemic has been termed the “pharmacy of the world”. Last year it sent medicines such as HCQ and Paracetamol to around 150 countries to deal with covid. Interestingly, the Quad+ initiative at the foreign secretary-level regularly met virtually in 2020 to share best practices to deal with the crisis. Pointing out, sources said, "pooling of individual capacities and strengths by Quad countries" is aimed at "expediting global vaccine delivery" and will help meet the "demand-supply gap, focusing on the Indo-Pacific region." Beijing sees Quad as "anti China" grouping, something dismissed by member countries. In the backdrop of Chinese views, the sources said Quad’s "model of enlightened, humanitarian collective action" through the supply of COVID-19 vaccines will "offer a template for peace, cooperation and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region".

Quad summit to announce 'vaccine initiative' with India's manufacturing at the centre

In a significant development for the world and the region, the first-ever summit of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/quad-fms-meet-for-third-time-india-calls-for-upholding-rule-of-law-in-myanmar-364627">Quad</a> leaders is being planned and is expected to take place very soon.&nbsp;

While no time schedule is known as of now, the meet, expected to be held virtually, will bring together US President Joe Biden, Indian Prime Minister&nbsp;Narendra Modi, Australian Prime Minister&nbsp;Scott Morrison, and Japan's Yoshihide Suga.

Confirming plans of the meet, Australian PM Scott Morrison&nbsp;said, "I am looking forward to that first gathering of Quad leaders. It will be the first-ever gathering of Quad leaders. I already had bilateral discussions with Narendra Modi and Yoshihide Suga, the PM of Japan and PM of India."

"We are looking forward to those discussions and follow-up face-to-face meetings as well,"&nbsp; he said, adding that such meets will become a "feature of the Indo-Pacific engagement".&nbsp; It will, however, not have a big bureaucracy, with a big secretariat, he added.

"It will be four leaders, four countries working together constructively for the peace, prosperity and stability of the Indo -Pacific".

The Australian PM also recalled how the summit was "one of the first things" he had discussed with Biden when both spoke after the US president took office.

"The Quad is very central to the United States and our thinking about the region. Looking at the Indo-Pacific also through the prism of our ASEAN partners, their vision of the Indo-Pacific," the Australian PM added.

"The president and indeed the secretary of state, have made clear that their re-engagement in multilateral organisations particularly in the Indo-Pacific is key in building stability and peace in the Indo-Pacific."

February saw the third foreign minister-level talks of the Quad grouping. The foreign ministers of Quad countries - US secretary state Antony Blinken, Japanese foreign minister Motegi Toshimitsu, Australian foreign minister&nbsp;Marise Payne and India's external affairs minister Dr S&nbsp;Jaishankar discussed key issues like COVID-19 pandemic&nbsp;and Myanmar.&nbsp;

Quad foreign ministers&nbsp;had met last year in Tokyo in a physical meeting. The first Quad foreign ministerial meeting took place in New York in 2019 on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

Quad is seen very suspiciously by China which has termed it "Asian NATO",&nbsp; something that has been dismissed by the grouping.&nbsp;

 
The dialogue was first initiated in 2007 by the then Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe&nbsp;but lost support, only to re-emerge in 2017 when leaders of the grouping met.&nbsp;

Last year saw Australia being invited to Malabar exercises which saw all four Quad countries coming under one umbrella for naval exercises in the Indian Ocean.&nbsp;

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Quad plus meetings took place at the foreign secretary-level to exchange best practices.

In a significant development for the world and the region, the first-ever summit of Quad leaders is being planned and is expected to take place very soon. While no time schedule is known as of now, the meet, expected to be held virtually, will bring together US President Joe Biden, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, and Japan's Yoshihide Suga.

In a significant development for the world and the region, the first-ever summit of Quad leaders is being planned and is expected to take place very soon. While no time schedule is known as of now, the meet, expected to be held virtually, will bring together US President Joe Biden, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, and Japan's Yoshihide Suga. Confirming plans of the meet, Australian PM Scott Morrison said, "I am looking forward to that first gathering of Quad leaders. It will be the first-ever gathering of Quad leaders. I already had bilateral discussions with Narendra Modi and Yoshihide Suga, the PM of Japan and PM of India." "We are looking forward to those discussions and follow-up face-to-face meetings as well," he said, adding that such meets will become a "feature of the Indo-Pacific engagement". It will, however, not have a big bureaucracy, with a big secretariat, he added. "It will be four leaders, four countries working together constructively for the peace, prosperity and stability of the Indo -Pacific". The Australian PM also recalled how the summit was "one of the first things" he had discussed with Biden when both spoke after the US president took office. "The Quad is very central to the United States and our thinking about the region. Looking at the Indo-Pacific also through the prism of our ASEAN partners, their vision of the Indo-Pacific," the Australian PM added. "The president and indeed the secretary of state, have made clear that their re-engagement in multilateral organisations particularly in the Indo-Pacific is key in building stability and peace in the Indo-Pacific." February saw the third foreign minister-level talks of the Quad grouping. The foreign ministers of Quad countries - US secretary state Antony Blinken, Japanese foreign minister Motegi Toshimitsu, Australian foreign minister Marise Payne and India's external affairs minister Dr S Jaishankar discussed key issues like COVID-19 pandemic and Myanmar. Quad foreign ministers had met last year in Tokyo in a physical meeting. The first Quad foreign ministerial meeting took place in New York in 2019 on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. Quad is seen very suspiciously by China which has termed it "Asian NATO", something that has been dismissed by the grouping. The dialogue was first initiated in 2007 by the then Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe but lost support, only to re-emerge in 2017 when leaders of the grouping met. Last year saw Australia being invited to Malabar exercises which saw all four Quad countries coming under one umbrella for naval exercises in the Indian Ocean. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Quad plus meetings took place at the foreign secretary-level to exchange best practices.

First-ever summit of Quad leaders set to take place

Washington has batted for the formalisation of Quad, a grouping of the United States, Japan, India and Australia.

In a telephonic briefing, Deputy Secretary of State Stephen E. Biegun said, "It is our view, that in the passage of time, Quad should become more regularised and at some point formalised as well, as we really begin to understand what the parameters of the cooperation are and how we can regularise it, that is very important"

The remarks come weeks after Quad foreign ministers had an in-person meeting in Tokyo earlier this month. This was the 2nd such Quad FMs meet that took place, the first took place last year in New York.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/eyeing-china-australia-accepts-indias-invitation-to-rejoin-quad-drill-naval-exercises-336547" hreflang="en">Eyeing China, Australia accepts India's invitation to rejoin 'quad' drill naval exercises</a>

Highlighting how Quad's origin lies after 2004 Tsunami in Asia, Biegun explained,"not necessarily advocating for Quad plus but rather continuation and regularisation of the Quad with an eventual goal of understanding how it can be best formalised and welcoming cooperation with any country in the Indo pacific that guarantees sovereignty and prosperity for its members"

Amidst the COVID pandemic, countries of the quad and other like-minded countries like Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand had a virtual meet at foreign secretary-level to exchange best ideas and deal with the crisis.

Asked on the expansion of the grouping, Biegun said, "There is no designed policy for quad expansion that is being advocated by US. Quad is still undefined entity....and it is premature...on expanding the Quad."

Deputy Secretary of State had visited India and Bangladesh earlier this month, a visit that comes ahead of US secretary of state Mike Pompeo's visit to India on 26th and 27th October for India and US 2+2 dialogue at foreign and defence ministers level. &nbsp;Pompeo will also visit Sri Lanka and the Maldives during that visit.

Washington has batted for the formalisation of Quad, a grouping of the United States, Japan, India and Australia. In a telephonic briefing, Deputy Secretary of State Stephen E.

Washington has batted for the formalisation of Quad, a grouping of the United States, Japan, India and Australia. In a telephonic briefing, Deputy Secretary of State Stephen E. Biegun said, "It is our view, that in the passage of time, Quad should become more regularised and at some point formalised as well, as we really begin to understand what the parameters of the cooperation are and how we can regularise it, that is very important" The remarks come weeks after Quad foreign ministers had an in-person meeting in Tokyo earlier this month. This was the 2nd such Quad FMs meet that took place, the first took place last year in New York. Also read: Eyeing China, Australia accepts India's invitation to rejoin 'quad' drill naval exercises Highlighting how Quad's origin lies after 2004 Tsunami in Asia, Biegun explained,"not necessarily advocating for Quad plus but rather continuation and regularisation of the Quad with an eventual goal of understanding how it can be best formalised and welcoming cooperation with any country in the Indo pacific that guarantees sovereignty and prosperity for its members" Amidst the COVID pandemic, countries of the quad and other like-minded countries like Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand had a virtual meet at foreign secretary-level to exchange best ideas and deal with the crisis. Asked on the expansion of the grouping, Biegun said, "There is no designed policy for quad expansion that is being advocated by US. Quad is still undefined entity....and it is premature...on expanding the Quad." Deputy Secretary of State had visited India and Bangladesh earlier this month, a visit that comes ahead of US secretary of state Mike Pompeo's visit to India on 26th and 27th October for India and US 2+2 dialogue at foreign and defence ministers level. Pompeo will also visit Sri Lanka and the Maldives during that visit.

United States bats for formalisation of Quad

The Quad or India, US, Australia and Japan ministerial meet could likely to happen as early as October even as India has said it read to hold it. In response to a WION question, Ministry of external affairs spokesperson said," we look forward to holding quad meet later this year and details are being worked out".

The&nbsp;Quad&nbsp;foreign ministers met last year on the sidelines of United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York, which was the first such meet of the grouping.

Sources told WION, while "details are still being worked out" but "strong intent is to hold something in coming months. Likely to be after Indian parliament session though so not Sept."&nbsp;Monsoon session of the parliament will take place from 14th September to 1st October.

Earlier this month,&nbsp;US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun said a quad ministerial meet is&nbsp;being planned to take place in Delhi.

Speaking at U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum, Biegun said, "There’s going to be meeting of the&nbsp;Quad, a ministerial meeting with the&nbsp;Quad&nbsp;this fall in Delhi – that’s the intention anyway – in person."

Quad&nbsp;is viewed with suspicion by China as a grouping that is anti-Beijing. Asked about&nbsp;quad&nbsp;being anti-China grouping, Biegun said,” I don’t think responding to the threat of China in and of itself or any potential challenge from China in and of itself would be enough of a driver. It also has to have a positive agenda."

The Quad or India, US, Australia and Japan ministerial meet could likely to happen as early as October even as India has said it read to hold it. In response to a WION question, Ministry of external affairs spokesperson said," we look forward to holding quad meet later this year and details are being worked out".

The Quad or India, US, Australia and Japan ministerial meet could likely to happen as early as October even as India has said it read to hold it. In response to a WION question, Ministry of external affairs spokesperson said," we look forward to holding quad meet later this year and details are being worked out". The Quad foreign ministers met last year on the sidelines of United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York, which was the first such meet of the grouping. Sources told WION, while "details are still being worked out" but "strong intent is to hold something in coming months. Likely to be after Indian parliament session though so not Sept." Monsoon session of the parliament will take place from 14th September to 1st October. Earlier this month, US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun said a quad ministerial meet is being planned to take place in Delhi. Speaking at U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum, Biegun said, "There’s going to be meeting of the Quad, a ministerial meeting with the Quad this fall in Delhi – that’s the intention anyway – in person." Quad is viewed with suspicion by China as a grouping that is anti-Beijing. Asked about quad being anti-China grouping, Biegun said,” I don’t think responding to the threat of China in and of itself or any potential challenge from China in and of itself would be enough of a driver. It also has to have a positive agenda."

Quad meet likely in October as India says ready to hold it

When the global community started using the terminology &lsquo;Indo-Pacific&rsquo; instead of &lsquo;Asia &ndash;Pacific&rsquo;, it was not merely a change in terminology, but it indicated a global maritime security concern due to Chinese island grabbing adventures and luring smaller countries to establish military bases in Indian Ocean Region (IOR), besides South and East China Sea. Both the oceans exist as a single water body with few choke points separating them, but the term Indo-Pacific indicates the maritime shift with some signalling to resent Chinese over aggressive moves with additional bases in IOR (Increasing Pearls of the String) and incremental encroachment in South and East China Sea.&nbsp;

The forthcoming visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to India towards this weekend is relevant in this context of Maritime security of IOR, besides other important expectations like nuclear cooperation and possible agreement between NPCIL (Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited) and EDF (of France) on six nuclear reactors, helping out India in indigenisation and maintenance of reactors. France is a major exporter of planes including fighter planes, helicopters, packaged medicaments and cars for which India is an emerging market, and a major importer of oil for which security of Gulf is important. Hence, they have managed to have military bases in Abu Dhabi and Djibouti. In both cases, there is a natural convergence of interests between India and France. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Looking from French point of view, its volume of trade transhipments in Indo- Pacific region is very limited when compared to QUAD countries (U.S.A, Japan, India and Australia) hence its concerns are also expected to be limited. French stakes in IOR however, are relatively much higher; hence it holds military bases in Djibouti, Abu Dhabi and Reunion Islands to look after its real state, which includes ten islands as part of French overseas territory. This happens to be the maximum held by any country as overseas territory, including approximately 11 million sq. km of exclusive economic zone especially in the Mozambique Channel. &nbsp;France also has some assets in South Pacific, which it will like to secure in conjunction with Australia. The French interests, therefore, will be limited to IOR and later possibly South Pacific. It, therefore, has a limited congruence of security interests with QUAD, and may not be taking an anti-Chinese position, more so after the visit of President Macron there.

India should be looking at a strategic partnership with France, with formal agreements to allow India logistics access to French military bases and vice versa, in IOR for mutual security interest on lines of LEMOA&nbsp;(Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement). We should also be looking at architecture for intelligence sharing, anti-piracy and disaster relief measures. I do not visualise that France will walk into any anti-Chinese arrangement including anything related to QUAD; hence the talks would be within the bounds of bilateralism and IOR for the time being. Post-release White Paper of Australia on its National Security last year and US National Security Strategy recently, the maritime concerns of Australia also are inter-woven with India and IOR, and have become a global concern. An offer of negotiating for joint exercises with France and Australia in Indian Ocean to improve interoperability may not be a bad idea. The fact that France has a base in Abu Dhabi, and its security interests are converging with Indians, some mutually beneficial arrangements could be discussed for future trilateral negotiations.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
India has to deal with a new strategic dynamics in IOR with increasing Chinese footprints. China in few decades grew from Brown to Blue-water Naval status, knocking off first and second island chains, went on to island grabbing spree and now it continues to acquire as many bases in IOR as it can, to protect its maritime road and make its BRI succeed. The additional bases of China in IOR have limited capability in view of inadequate air power, and its aircraft carriers will still take quite sometimes to be able to be fully effective in IOR in comparison with Indian and other Navies operating there. Although Indian Navy is well poised to protect Indian interests in IOR, yet it needs to be seriously concerned with growing hostile capability and needs to take concrete steps in capacity building.&nbsp;

Towards this end, a strategic partnership with France to be able to use their military bases will serve our mutual interest. In fact, India itself should start looking for military bases at strategically crucial locations and offer similar facilities to French Navy. The French Defence equipment can also be looked at for capacity building. India should look beyond getting some islands in Seychelles and Mauritius to cut down reaction time with reciprocal facilities to France from our existing naval bases. With this as a backdrop, it will be interesting to see how far France is ready to sail with India in IOR. &nbsp; &nbsp;

&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;

France has a limited congruence of security interests with QUAD, and may not be taking an anti-Chinese position. Thus India has to deal with a new strategic dynamics with France in IOR with increasing Chinese footprints.

When the global community started using the terminology ‘Indo-Pacific’ instead of ‘Asia –Pacific’, it was not merely a change in terminology, but it indicated a global maritime security concern due to Chinese island grabbing adventures and luring smaller countries to establish military bases in Indian Ocean Region (IOR), besides South and East China Sea. Both the oceans exist as a single water body with few choke points separating them, but the term Indo-Pacific indicates the maritime shift with some signalling to resent Chinese over aggressive moves with additional bases in IOR (Increasing Pearls of the String) and incremental encroachment in South and East China Sea. The forthcoming visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to India towards this weekend is relevant in this context of Maritime security of IOR, besides other important expectations like nuclear cooperation and possible agreement between NPCIL (Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited) and EDF (of France) on six nuclear reactors, helping out India in indigenisation and maintenance of reactors. France is a major exporter of planes including fighter planes, helicopters, packaged medicaments and cars for which India is an emerging market, and a major importer of oil for which security of Gulf is important. Hence, they have managed to have military bases in Abu Dhabi and Djibouti. In both cases, there is a natural convergence of interests between India and France. Looking from French point of view, its volume of trade transhipments in Indo- Pacific region is very limited when compared to QUAD countries (U.S.A, Japan, India and Australia) hence its concerns are also expected to be limited. French stakes in IOR however, are relatively much higher; hence it holds military bases in Djibouti, Abu Dhabi and Reunion Islands to look after its real state, which includes ten islands as part of French overseas territory. This happens to be the maximum held by any country as overseas territory, including approximately 11 million sq. km of exclusive economic zone especially in the Mozambique Channel. France also has some assets in South Pacific, which it will like to secure in conjunction with Australia. The French interests, therefore, will be limited to IOR and later possibly South Pacific. It, therefore, has a limited congruence of security interests with QUAD, and may not be taking an anti-Chinese position, more so after the visit of President Macron there. India should be looking at a strategic partnership with France, with formal agreements to allow India logistics access to French military bases and vice versa, in IOR for mutual security interest on lines of LEMOA (Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement). We should also be looking at architecture for intelligence sharing, anti-piracy and disaster relief measures. I do not visualise that France will walk into any anti-Chinese arrangement including anything related to QUAD; hence the talks would be within the bounds of bilateralism and IOR for the time being. Post-release White Paper of Australia on its National Security last year and US National Security Strategy recently, the maritime concerns of Australia also are inter-woven with India and IOR, and have become a global concern. An offer of negotiating for joint exercises with France and Australia in Indian Ocean to improve interoperability may not be a bad idea. The fact that France has a base in Abu Dhabi, and its security interests are converging with Indians, some mutually beneficial arrangements could be discussed for future trilateral negotiations. India has to deal with a new strategic dynamics in IOR with increasing Chinese footprints. China in few decades grew from Brown to Blue-water Naval status, knocking off first and second island chains, went on to island grabbing spree and now it continues to acquire as many bases in IOR as it can, to protect its maritime road and make its BRI succeed. The additional bases of China in IOR have limited capability in view of inadequate air power, and its aircraft carriers will still take quite sometimes to be able to be fully effective in IOR in comparison with Indian and other Navies operating there. Although Indian Navy is well poised to protect Indian interests in IOR, yet it needs to be seriously concerned with growing hostile capability and needs to take concrete steps in capacity building. Towards this end, a strategic partnership with France to be able to use their military bases will serve our mutual interest. In fact, India itself should start looking for military bases at strategically crucial locations and offer similar facilities to French Navy. The French Defence equipment can also be looked at for capacity building. India should look beyond getting some islands in Seychelles and Mauritius to cut down reaction time with reciprocal facilities to France from our existing naval bases. With this as a backdrop, it will be interesting to see how far France is ready to sail with India in IOR. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: On visit to India, French President Macron may not take anti-China position

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Quad summit to announce 'vaccine initiative' with India's manufacturing at the centre

First-ever summit of Quad leaders set to take place

United States bats for formalisation of Quad

Quad meet likely in October as India says ready to hold it

Opinion: On visit to India, French President Macron may not take anti-China position