Context:
India, along with Japan, the United States, and Australia, has initiated the first-ever ‘QUAD at Sea Ship Observer Mission’, marking a new chapter in QUAD maritime cooperation.

Key Points:

• This maritime observer mission brings together the Indian Coast Guard, Japan Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard, and Australian Border Force for the first time in an at-sea engagement.
• The initiative stems from the Wilmington Declaration adopted during the QUAD Leaders' Summit 2024.
• It reinforces the QUAD’s commitment to a free, open, inclusive, and rules-based Indo-Pacific.
• India’s participation aligns with its strategic vision under the SAGAR doctrine (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI).

Source: The Hindu