Diplomat Discusses Strengthening Relations Between India and Japan within the Quad Coalition
The Quad nations—Australia, India, Japan, and the United States—are forging ahead despite challenges like the ongoing U.S. tariffs on Indian products. These tariffs, partly due to India's continued imports of Russian crude oil, have sparked concerns that the issue could worsen India-U.S. relations. However, strategic imperatives such as countering China’s regional influence, securing critical supply chains, and reinforcing shared democratic values keep the partnership resilient.
During an interview with Jiji Press in Tokyo on Aug. 1, Indian Ambassador Sibi George emphasised the bond between the Quad countries. He noted that the nations share values such as democracy and the rule of law, which provide a foundation for ongoing cooperation beyond trade issues.
The Quad Critical Minerals Initiative aims to build regional refining and processing capacity, align standards, and jointly invest in industrial strategies to counter China’s dominance in critical minerals vital for technologies like electric vehicles and semiconductors. India's potential as a processing hub, thanks to market and policy reforms, strengthens economic and technological ties among Quad members.
Enhanced defence and security cooperation is another key connecting factor. The Quad countries work closely on defence capacity building, joint military exercises, and regional security dialogues to maintain balance in the Indo-Pacific amid rising tensions. This cooperation helps maintain strategic trust and operational coordination despite bilateral economic frictions.
Broader collaboration in science, technology, and innovation is also a focus. For example, India and Japan have designated 2025 as a year of exchange in science and technology, demonstrating efforts to deepen institutional linkages within the Quad framework.
Despite the potential for retaliatory tariffs from India, George stated that any decisions will be made in line with the demands of Indian citizens. He reiterated that India has its own requirements to consider in the context of tariff policies.
As India celebrates its Independence Day on Aug. 15, the Quad partnership continues to evolve with a focus on long-term geopolitical and technological collaboration rather than being derailed by short-term trade issues. The strategic collaboration on critical minerals and supply chains, shared values, enhanced defence and security cooperation, and broader collaboration in science, technology, and innovation are all factors that are helping to maintain and even deepen the partnership among the Quad countries.
Photos of the Quad nations' joint military exercises might be shared on social media, connecting people worldwide and demonstrating the Quad's commitment to regional security. These shared images could serve as a symbol of their unity, countering negative narratives related to politics and general-news articles that focus on tariff disputes.
As China continues to dominate the market for critical minerals essential for advanced technologies, the need to collaborate on refining and processing strategies becomes more pressing. Such collaborations, like the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative, can help India and others reduce their reliance on China, fostering a connection among Quad nations based on shared interests in technology innovation.
