INDIA-AUSTRALIA TIES AND EMERGENCE OF THE QUAD: THE STRATEGIC COOPERATION IN THE INDO-PACIFIC REGION

Abstract

The Indo-Pacific region has been witnessing an increasing level of strategic competition in recent years. This has led to the emergence of a new grouping known as Quad, which comprises the United States, Japan, India, and Australia. This article analyses the India-Australia ties and their role in the formation of Quad. It examines the drivers of strategic cooperation between the two countries, their evolving partnership, and the challenges and opportunities that they face in the Indo-Pacific region. On the other hand, Strategic cooperation between two countries is an essential aspect of contemporary bilateral relations. It is a manifestation of the need for mutual support and collaboration to achieve common objectives. This article also aims to analyse the drivers, challenges, and opportunities of strategic cooperation between two countries. It examines the factors that promote strategic cooperation, identifies the challenges that hamper it, and explores the opportunities for its enhancement. India-Australia ties in 21st century and the emergence of the Quad in contemporary geo-politics of the Indo-Pacific have changed dynamics of regional as well as global politics. The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, is a strategic forum comprising four powers of the Indo-Pacific region. The emergence of QUAD in Indo-Pacific geopolitics has attracted significant attention from scholars and policymakers. This article also critically analyses the factors that have led to the emergence of QUAD, its strategic objectives, and its potential impact on the region's geopolitical landscape. Bilaterally, how PM Modi era has transformed India-Australia relationship from the ‘periphery’ of New Delhi’s ‘vision’ to ‘centre of thought’, through G20 and other regional and multilateral forums. Subsequently, the emergence of the Quad has been the game changer in the dynamics of bilateral as well as multilateral perspectives. Within Modi period, the relationship has been transformed completely at every level of engagements between India and Australia. This article also focuses on the drivers of this new changes in the relationship of both the countries, particularly strategic partnership and the challenges faced by the Modi era.