Sun Sep 22 11:30:50 UTC 2024: ## Quad Summit 2024: India Emphasizes Cooperation, Technology, and Indo-Pacific Security

Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the Quad summit in the US, reiterating India’s commitment to a rules-based international order and fostering cooperation with partners in the Indo-Pacific region. The summit focused on strengthening ties between the Quad nations – India, Japan, Australia, and the US – in areas like semiconductors, critical technologies, and bolstering Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA).

**Key highlights of the summit:**

* **Focus on Indo-Pacific Security:** Leaders emphasized the Quad’s goal of a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific, without directly targeting any specific nation.
* **Technology Collaboration:** Discussions centered around boosting cooperation in semiconductors and critical technologies, recognizing their importance for regional security and prosperity.
* **Undersea Cable Connectivity:** The Quad nations reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening undersea cable networks in the Indo-Pacific through the Quad Partnership for Cable Connectivity and Resilience. India has commissioned a feasibility study to expand undersea cable maintenance and repair capabilities in the region.
* **Clean and Fair Economy:** India signed and exchanged agreements focused on the Clean Economy and Fair Economy under the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) during the summit.
* **People-to-People Connections:** India launched a new initiative to award 50 Quad scholarships to students from the Indo-Pacific, reflecting the Quad’s dedication to fostering strategic partnerships and cultural exchanges.
* **Bilateral Meetings:** PM Modi held bilateral talks with US President Joe Biden, discussing global challenges, including the situation in Ukraine. Biden expressed support for India’s permanent membership in a reformed UN Security Council.

**Beyond the Summit:**

* PM Modi met with the Indian diaspora in New York, highlighting the importance of their contributions.
* India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri emphasized India’s commitment to cooperation, contact, and engagement for growth with partners in the Indo-Pacific.
* India is scheduled to host the Quad summit in 2025.

The Quad summit demonstrates the growing importance of the Indo-Pacific region and the collective efforts of the Quad nations to foster stability, security, and prosperity in the region. The focus on technology, infrastructure, and people-to-people connections emphasizes the multifaceted approach to strengthening partnerships in the Indo-Pacific.

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