RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2411
TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.01.2018
FEATURES OF QUADRILATERAL SECURITY DIALOGUE
2411. SHRI PARTAP SINGH BAJWA:
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) the salient features and aims of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, with Japan, Australia and the United States of America;
(b) the details of India’s official stance thereon including plans for further engagement, if any;
(c) whether there has been back-room or official dialogue regarding the group itself, among its members during the last four years and if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the reasons for India rejecting Australia’s request to join the Malabar naval exercises in 2018?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]
(a) to (d) Government engages with various countries through bilateral, multilateral and plurilateral platforms on issues that advance our interests and promote our viewpoint. India has undertaken consultations with Australia, Japan and the United States of
America on regional and global issues of common interest. Three rounds of official-level consultations have taken place in November 2017, June 2018 and November 2018.
These consultations have focused on cooperation in areas such as connectivity, sustainable development, counter-terrorism, non-proliferation and maritime and cyber security, with a view to promoting peace, stability and prosperity in an increasingly inter-connected
Indo-Pacific region that the four countries share with each other and with other partners.
Malabar naval exercise was designed as a bilateral exercise between India and the United States. Japan has participated in the exercise on a regular basis since 2015. India also conducts bilateral naval exercise AUSINDEX with Australia.
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