Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Collaboration should not be seen as militarisation of Quad: MEA
New Delhi, May 26
The newly announced Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Collaboration is aimed at strengthening the Quad's contribution to regional maritime domain awareness through coordinated maritime surveillance efforts and should not be viewed as a militarisation of the four-member grouping, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Tuesday.
Addressing a special briefing following the 11th Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting here, MEA Additional Secretary Nagaraj Naidu said the initiative is focused on improving surveillance capabilities in the Indo-Pacific amid growing congestion in international waterways and increasing movement of "dark ships".
"This is the Quad, the Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Cooperation. This surveillance should not be seen as the militarisation of the Quad. Neither is IPMDA, the Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness," Naidu said.
He said several countries in the Indo-Pacific region lack access to advanced surveillance technologies due to high costs, prompting Quad partners to work together to make such technologies available for wider regional use.
Naidu said under the existing Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA), India receives data through the United States and shares it with friendly nations requiring such inputs for maritime safety and security.
"The additional layer that we have added through the IPMSC is to bring in more technology to bear. So IPMDA will top up with IPMSC, and this will enable us to provide real-time data to partners, particularly and give them an enhanced picture of the kind of vessels that are operating in the waters," he added.
Naidu noted that the focus of the collaboration is to provide a stronger operational picture across maritime spaces in the Indo-Pacific region.
On the "Quad at Sea" initiative, Naidu said that the initiative, launched last year, aims to bring together the Coast Guards of the four Quad countries to improve interoperability and enhance mutual learning.
"This year India will be hosting it. It is to bring the Coast Guards of the four countries together and enhance cooperation. These are the areas where I think Quad can really enhance its learning, and by enhancing its learning, is when we could actually take it back to our Indo-Pacific partners who are looking at good examples," he said.
Quad Foreign Ministers, in a joint statement issued after the meeting, reiterated their commitment to addressing maritime security challenges through coordinated responses.
The statement welcomed India's operationalisation of the Indian Ocean Region programme of the Quad's IPMDA through the Information Fusion Centre - Indian Ocean Region in Gurugram.
The four countries also announced that they would work towards developing a Common Operational Picture across the Indo-Pacific by building on existing IPMDA efforts.
"We will further strengthen our contribution to regional maritime domain awareness by coordination of maritime surveillance efforts through the Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Collaboration (IPMSC), initially in the Indian Ocean Region," the joint statement read.
According to the statement, IPMSC will integrate the latest technological developments to augment IPMDA by enabling Quad partners to share real-time information and provide an enhanced picture of vessels operating across the region in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.
The ministers also noted that following the first Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission from Palau to Guam in July 2025, India will host the next edition of the mission aimed at strengthening interoperability and knowledge-sharing to tackle unlawful maritime activities in the Indo-Pacific.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Honestly, I'm a bit skeptical. On paper it sounds good but Quad is already seen as an anti-China alliance whether they admit it or not. Adding more tech and coordination just increases that perception abroad. That said, if it helps our Navy and Coast Guard protect our EEZ and maritime interests, maybe it's worth the diplomatic cost. Time will tell.
Good to see India hosting the Quad at Sea this year. As someone who follows maritime security, the issue of dark ships conducting illegal fishing, smuggling, and potential sabotage is very real. The US and Japan have advanced tech; India has the geographic position and naval expertise. This partnership makes strategic sense for all free nations in the Indo-Pacific.
Yaar, I trust our diplomats but this constant "not militarisation" clarification just shows they're worried about how others perceive it. If it's purely defensive and surveillance-focused, then why not clearly state it's to prevent piracy, smuggling and illegal fishing? Instead they sound defensive. Just my two paise. 😅
Finally India taking lead in IOR surveillance! We've been trying with IFC-IOR in Gurugram but cooperation with US, Australia and Japan will take it to next level. Common Operational Picture across Indo-Pacific is exactly what was needed. Our Navy will benefit immensely. Just hope they share data transparently with smaller nations without strings attached.
As someone who works in logistics, the "growing congestion in international waterways" and dark ships are real headaches. Any tech that gives real-time vessel tracking and improves safety for merchant shipping is welcome.
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