QUAD ‘At Sea Observer Mission’

QUAD ‘At Sea Observer Mission’

A first-ever maritime cross-embarkation initiative involving Coast Guards of India, Japan, the United States, and Australia. It is a Part of broader QUAD efforts to ensure a Free, Open, Inclusive, and Rules-Based Indo-Pacific.Two officers, including women officers from each country have embarked on board US Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) Stratton, which is currently sailing to Guam.

Strategic Objectives

1. Interoperability

• Enhances joint readiness and the ability to conduct combined maritime operations during crises, patrols, or disaster relief.

2. Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA)

• Shared monitoring, surveillance, and response capabilities in the Indo-Pacific, especially key choke points like the Malacca Strait and South China Sea.

3. Capacity-Building

• Focus on training, humanitarian outreach, and technical exchanges among partner nations.

4. Upholding a Rules-Based Maritime Order

• Reinforces the Free, Open, Inclusive, and Rules-Based Indo-Pacific vision, central to QUAD's strategic doctrine.

Key Highlights:

• Vessel: The mission involves cross-embarkation aboard the USCGC Stratton, a U.S. Legend-class national security cutter.

  Personnel: Two officers, including women, from each nation are onboard.

  Objective: Improve interoperability, operational coordination, and domain awareness, bolstering maritime safety in alignment with a Free, Open, Inclusive, and Rules-Based Indo-Pacific.

  Foundation: This initiative stems from commitments made during the QUAD Leaders’ Summit in Wilmington, Delaware (September 2024), under the Wilmington Declaration.

  India’s Role: India aligns the mission with its SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision and the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), focusing on capacity-building and humanitarian outreach.

Why It Matters:

First major joint observer mission by QUAD Coast Guards.

Demonstrates growing non-military security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

Symbolizes increasing strategic trust and maritime solidarity in response to regional challenges (e.g., illegal fishing, natural disasters, maritime disputes).