Former Indian Ambassador Meera Shankar Praises Quad’s New Maritime and Tech Initiatives

New Delhi, India – The former Indian Ambassador to the United States, Meera Shankar, has expressed her approval of the Quad leaders’ decision to expand the maritime domain awareness program to the Indian Ocean. This move comes amid growing concerns over the Chinese military’s increased presence in the region.

Quad’s Commitment to Maritime Security

Shankar emphasized that the Quad is a lasting alliance, not a temporary arrangement. She highlighted the importance of the Quad Leaders’ Summit in asserting the permanence of the Quad and its activities in maritime domain awareness.

“The decision to expand the maritime domain awareness programs to the Indian Ocean is significant for India, especially given the rising Chinese incursions in the region,” Shankar said. She noted that the program was previously limited to the Pacific and South China Sea but will now include the Indian Ocean, with India contributing to the initiative.

New Maritime Initiative for Training in the Indo-Pacific (MAITRI)

During the Leaders’ Summit, the Quad leaders announced a new regional Maritime Initiative for Training in the Indo-Pacific (MAITRI). This initiative aims to help regional partners maximize tools provided through IPMDA and other Quad partner initiatives to monitor and secure their waters, enforce laws, and deter unlawful behavior. India is set to host the inaugural MAITRI workshop in 2025.

Focus on Critical and Emerging Technologies

Shankar also praised the Quad’s initiative on critical and emerging technologies, aimed at creating reliable and resilient supply chains. She pointed out that the COVID-19 pandemic had disrupted supply chains, and the Quad’s efforts would prevent such disruptions in the future.

“The Quad is looking to create reliable and resilient supply chains to avoid disruptions like those experienced during COVID-19,” Shankar said. She added that the US-India relationship is expected to continue its upward trajectory, regardless of the outcome of the upcoming US presidential elections.

US-India Technological Partnerships

Shankar highlighted the win-win situation for both India and the US in terms of technological partnerships. The US, being a leading technological country, and India, with its competitive technological capabilities, can work together to create diversified supply chains and reduce costs.

Challenges in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals

On the topic of Sustainable Development Goals, Shankar stressed the urgency of achieving these goals, including improving life expectancy and reducing child mortality. She pointed out that many developing countries lack adequate finance to meet these goals.

“There’s very little time left to achieve the sustainable development goals, and we are far from achieving them in many areas,” Shankar said.

Former Indian Ambassador -: An ambassador is a person who represents their country in another country. Meera Shankar used to be India’s representative in the United States.

Quad -: The Quad is a group of four countries: India, the United States, Japan, and Australia. They work together on important issues like security and technology.

maritime domain awareness -: This means knowing what is happening in the sea areas, like tracking ships and submarines. It helps keep the oceans safe.

Indian Ocean -: The Indian Ocean is a large body of water south of India. Many countries use it for trade and travel.

Chinese military presence -: This means that China has its military forces, like ships and submarines, in certain areas. Some countries worry about this because it can affect their security.

Maritime Initiative for Training in the Indo-Pacific (MAITRI) -: MAITRI is a program to train people in skills related to the sea in the Indo-Pacific region, which includes countries around the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

resilient supply chains -: Supply chains are the systems that bring products from factories to stores. Resilient supply chains can handle problems like delays or shortages without breaking down.

US-India technological partnership -: This means that the United States and India are working together to develop new technologies, like computers and space technology.

Sustainable Development Goals -: These are global goals set by the United Nations to make the world a better place by 2030. They include things like ending poverty and protecting the environment.

financial challenges for developing countries -: Developing countries are nations that are still growing and improving their economies. Financial challenges mean they have trouble getting enough money to meet their needs.