Australia, Japan, and the United States have once again reiterated their commitment to bolster India's maritime surveillance capabilities throughout the Indo-Pacific region. This announcement came following the fourteenth Trilateral Defence Ministers' Meeting (TDMM) held on Sunday in Darwin, Australia. Notably, the discussions championed the role of India, particularly emphasizing their leading capacity in the conceptualization of collaborative maritime surveillance efforts.
Richard Marles, who serves as the Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, joined hands with Japan's Defence Minister Nakatani Gen and US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin III to issue this declaration. The joint statement underscored how the nations collectively pledge to strengthen maritime domain awareness from 2025 onwards. This movement is framed within the broader scope of India's established role at the forefront of maritime security efforts.
According to the joint statement made after the meeting, "We commit to enhancing Australia-Japan-India-United States maritime domain awareness in the Indo-Pacific from 2025, acknowledging India's leadership role in conceptualizing the idea of closer collaboration in maritime surveillance." This commitment speaks volumes about the strategic partnerships and the significance attached to India's growth as a key player on the high seas.
India has been diligently working on enhancing its maritime security framework, with maritime domain awareness (MDA) at the very core of its initiatives. This strategy focuses not only on fortifying naval capabilities but also on creating comprehensive frameworks to monitor and secure the vast maritime territories stretching across the Indo-Pacific.
The recent trilateral meeting also highlighted past collaboration successes, with the ministers expressing their satisfaction over the progress made during Exercise KAKADU held back in September 2024, where joint maritime patrol activities involving India were carried out successfully.
Backtracking to earlier announcements from September, the Wilmington Declaration was unveiled post the meeting of the Quad leaders, which included Prime Minister Narendra Modi, then US President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. The Wilmington Declaration reiterated the recognition of India's significant contribution to the Indo-Pacific region, reflected through its leadership role as the finalizer of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (IOIP).
This collaboration among the Quad nations aims to implement the 'Maritime Initiative for Training in the Indo-Pacific' (MAITRI), targeted to refine the monitoring and enforcement of existing laws against unlawful activities within the waters surrounding them. Under this umbrella, the Quad has not only focused on maritime security but also ventured to tackle health challenges with the launch of the 'Quad Cancer Moonshot' initiative aimed at reducing fatalities from cervical cancer across the Indo-Pacific.
Besides health matters, another initiative unveiled was the 'Quad Ports of the Future Partnership', geared toward supporting sustainable and resilient port infrastructure throughout the Indo-Pacific. This shows how maritime affairs intertwine with broader developmental issues, affirming the interconnectedness of security, health, and infrastructural benefits.
Reflecting on the concerns raised during this latest trilateral meeting, coercive practices seen within the South China Sea have been noted repeatedly. The discussions reinforced the importance of adhering to international regulations, with emphasis on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to uphold the global maritime rules-based order.
The statement explicitly emphasized, "We are united in commitment to upholding a stable and open international system, with strong support for human rights, freedom, the rule of law, democratic values, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and the peaceful settlement of disputes without the threat or use of force in accordance with international law, including the UN Charter." Such assertions highlight the collective stance taken by these nations to preserve peace and stability within the maritime domain.
Alongside safeguarding freedom and stability, there was also recognition of the role ASEAN plays within the broader regional dynamics. The joint statement celebrated ASEAN's centrality and unity, aligning expectations toward the success of the approaching ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus) scheduled for the following week.
Conclusionally, the trilateral meeting serves as a demonstration of the tight-knit partnership forged among Australia, Japan, and the USA with India. Their united stance not only significantly enhances India's maritime capabilities but also contributes to the broader security and strategic dimensions of the Indo-Pacific region. By enhancing collaborative efforts among allies and partners, they aim to maintain regional stability, address security challenges, and support international law and human rights across maritime jurisdictions.
