Quad and AUKUS: New Gambit and Underwater Drones

The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) and AUKUS have yet again unveiled a flawed strategy for influence in the Pacific. Both security alliances are ambitious and are planning to invest more in aggressive capabilities.

Secondly, the Western powers are engaging these Asia Pacific countries in direct military-to-military engagement. For instance, the recent Exercise Balikatan 2026 took place from April to May 2026 and involved countries like Canada, Australia, Japan, France, New Zealand, and the Philippines, including the US. The main purpose of these exercises is to drag these Pacific nations into an unnecessary military confrontation, most probably against China and Russia.

Quite recently, two important developments have taken place. First, on May 26, 2026, the foreign ministers of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue members met in New Delhi to mark the 11th edition of the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. The Quad members have decided to establish the Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Collaboration (IPMSC) as well as the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA). Most importantly, the Quad has decided to launch the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative Framework........

© New Eastern Outlook