Quad launches first-ever coast guard 'at-sea observer mission' to boost maritime cooperation in Indo-Pacific

The Quad, comprising India, the United States, Japan, and Australia, has launched the first ‘Quad at-sea Ship Observer Mission’ to enhance maritime security and interoperability in the Indo-Pacific region. The mission involves two officers, including women, from the coast guards of each nation.

The Quad is an informal grouping committed to a free, open, inclusive, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region. The group, which is involved in security cooperation, humanitarian and disaster relief work, and developmental activities, is also a way of member states to counter China’s hegemonic designs in the region.

The Quad at-sea Ship Observer Mission was conceptualised at the Quad Summit 2024 in Wilmington in the United States.

Under the Wilmington Declaration, the Coast Guards of India, Japan, the United States, and Australia have launched the ‘QUAD at Sea Ship Observer Mission’, which involves the deployment of two officers, including women officers, from each country on board US Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) Stratton, which is currently sailing to Guam, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

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“The cross-embarkation mission marks an unprecedented step in Quad Coast Guard collaboration, enhancing joint readiness, operational coordination, and domain awareness in support of a Free, Open, Inclusive, and Rules-Based Indo-Pacific,” the statement further said.

In a landmark step for #IndoPacific maritime synergy, Coast Guards of #QUAD nations, #India, #Japan, #UnitedStates, and #Australia launched #QUADatSea Ship Observer Mission aboard USCGC Stratton enroute to #Guam. Rooted in #WilmingtonDeclaration (Sept 2024), this pioneering cross… pic.twitter.com/VKoCy2akoK

— Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) June 30, 2025

While Quad is not a military alliance, the member states have increased military cooperation under Quad framework in recent years.

Former US President Joe Biden, who hosted the Quad Summit 2024 at his home in Wilmington, joined hands with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make Quad one of the leading instruments of managing the Indo-Pacific region and countering the Chinese aggressive posturing in the region. In 2023, India, Australia, Japan, and the United States held military drills off the Australian coast. The drills were widely dubbed as ‘Quad Drills’.

The MoD said that India’s participation in the Quad at-Sea Ship Observer Mission reinforces its strategic maritime vision of Sagar (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and complements national efforts under the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), with an emphasis on capacity-building, humanitarian outreach, and maritime rule of law.

Moreover, the Quad at-sea initiative thus sets the foundation for a ‘QUAD Coast Guard Handshake’, fostering stronger trust, coordination, and collective resilience amid evolving maritime challenges in the region, the statement further said.