The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue: Towards an Indo-Pacific Order

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David Envall writes that the revised “Quad”—the 2017 update of the informal quadrilateral security dialogue originally formed by the US, Japan, India and Australia in 2007—represents a renewed attempt to shore up a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific. However, Envall also contends the Quad’s viability faces major challenges. These include the potential for the geopolitical situation to overwhelm cooperation opportunities, as happened with the original Quad. Further, as the Quad again aims to support the “Indo-Pacific” order, it is constrained by the vagueness of the Indo-Pacific concept and Indonesia’s absence.