• The fourth edition of the Quadrilateral meet among India, Japan, Australia and the United States, after it was revived in November 2017, was held recently at Bangkok, Thailand.
• India, Australia, Japan and the US have backed Asean-led mechanisms in efforts to create a rule-based regional architecture for the Indo-Pacific, where China is seeking to exert its influence.
• They held consultations on collective efforts to “advance a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific”.
• The meet also referred to efforts to “maintain universal respect for international law and freedom of navigation and overflight”.

About Quadrilateral:

• With the aim of countering China’s aggressive behaviour in the Indo-Pacific region, India, Australia, US and Japan; that comprise the proposed “quadrilateral” coalition in 2017.
• Regional coalition known as the ‘Quad’, the quadrilateral formation includes Japan, India, United States and Australia.
• Quad, as one of the elements of its larger Indo-Pacific strategy for “a free, open and rules-based order” in face of an aggressive and expansionist China in the region, should eventually evolve into a ministerial-level dialogue imbued with a strong military dimension.
• The Quad grouping is one of the many avenues for interaction among India, Australia, Japan and the US and should not be seen in an exclusive context. Quad should not be seen in any comparative or in an exclusive context.