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Is This Democratic Coalition Capable of Strengthening Global Health Security?

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world’s vulnerability to health threats has never been more evident. As nations grapple with emerging infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and climate change-driven threats, the need for robust global health security is paramount. In this context, the rise of the Quad – an informal strategic partnership between Australia, India, Japan, and the United States – presents a potential catalyst for strengthening health security across the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.

The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue or Quad partnership originated from the joint efforts of the four countries to coordinate humanitarian aid and disaster relief following the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Initially focused on humanitarian cooperation, the first Quad summit in 2007 laid the groundwork for expanding collaboration to maritime issues. The underlying principle driving this initiative was the recognition of the critical importance of a free and open Indo-Pacific region for all member states. Then-Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo emphasized this notion in an address to the Indian Parliament, highlighting the interconnectedness of the Indian and Pacific Oceans as a single strategic space.

However, cooperation through Quad diplomacy experienced fluctuations after 2007, with concerns from India and Australia about the perception of the Quad as a containment tool against China. In November 2017, the Quad was re-established after negotiations and relabeled as Quad 2.0. This resurgence reflected heightened concerns about China’s rise and its increasing influence in the Indo-Pacific region. Quad 2.0 also expanded its scope to include nontraditional security challenges encompassing disaster relief, development, finance, cybersecurity, counterterrorism, and, most recently, global health security.

Global health security has become a top priority for policymakers worldwide, as evidenced by the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has highlighted the interconnectedness of health systems across borders and underscored the need for collective action to prevent, detect, and respond to emerging health threats. Thus, global health security cooperation is essential for the Quad to safeguard the well-being of populations within its region and beyond, ensuring resilience against emerging health threats.

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