QUAD Launches First Joint Sea Mission

On 30th June 2025, India, Japan, the US, and Australia launched the first-ever ‘QUAD at Sea Ship Observer Mission’ to enhance maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

The mission involves cross-embarkation of two officers—including women officers—from each QUAD country aboard the US Coast Guard Cutter Stratton, currently sailing toward Guam.
It is the first operational initiative under the Wilmington Declaration, advancing shared goals of maritime domain awareness, joint preparedness, and regional interoperability.
The effort reflects the strategic intent of the QUAD Leaders’ Summit held in September 2024, which emphasized practical steps toward securing a Free, Open, Inclusive, and Rules-Based Indo-Pacific.
India’s participation reinforces its SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine, which promotes regional maritime security, economic cooperation, and sustainable development.
The mission also aligns with India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), which focuses on capacity-building, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and upholding international maritime law.