Divided over Russia, Quad on same page: channel for relief on Ukraine

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A carefully crafted joint statement, devoid of the rhetoric from Washington, Canberra and Tokyo, said, “The Quad leaders discussed the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and assessed its broader implications.”

“They agreed to stand up a new humanitarian assistance and disaster relief mechanism which will enable the Quad to meet future humanitarian challenges in the Indo-Pacific and provide a channel for communication as they each address and respond to the crisis in Ukraine.”

In New Delhi, the Prime Minister’s Office said, “Developments in Ukraine were discussed in the meeting, including its humanitarian implications. The Prime Minister emphasised the need to return to a path of dialogue and diplomacy.” This has been the consistent Indian position over the last month or so.

The coming together of the Quad leaders and the demonstration of unity, despite the divergence of views on the Russia-Ukraine crisis, also underlined their common position on the Chinese challenge. “Today the Quad Leaders – Prime Minister Scott Morrison of Australia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan, and President Joe Biden of the United States – convened to reaffirm their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, in which the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states is respected and countries are free from military, economic, and political coercion.”

This was a clear reference to Beijing’s belligerence and aggressive activities in the Indo-Pacific region — from the India-China boundary to the South China Sea to economic coercion against Australia.

“They reaffirmed their dedication to the Quad as a mechanism to promote regional stability and prosperity,” the joint statement said.

“In their continuing pursuit of a free and open Indo-Pacific, the Quad Leaders agreed to meet in person in Tokyo in the coming months,” it said — official confirmation of a Quad leaders’ summit in Tokyo in the first half of the year.

Biden, in a Twitter post after the meeting, said, “I met with my fellow Quad leaders Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Prime Minister Kishida Fumio about Russia’s ongoing attack on Ukraine and our commitment to sovereignty and territorial integrity around the world, including in the Indo-Pacific.”

Kishida said, “Unilateral changes to the status quo by force or coercion like the recent Russian aggression against Ukraine are also unacceptable in the Indo-Pacific region. It is critically important for us to bring about a free and open Indo-Pacific. We agreed we will work in close cooperation to ensure the success of our next face-to-face Quad summit, which will be held in Tokyo in the coming months.”

The PMO said Modi “underlined that the Quad must remain focused on its core objective of promoting peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region”.

“The leaders also discussed other topical issues, including the situation in Southeast Asia, the Indian Ocean region and the Pacific Islands. Prime Minister reiterated the importance of adhering to the UN Charter, international law and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the PMO said.

This was reiteration of New Delhi’s position — of abstaining at UN votes on the Russia-Ukraine crisis, yet sending a message to Russia for violating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

None of the tough language condemning Russia was there in the Quad joint statement, and that displayed accommodation of the Indian position.

Modi called for concrete and practical forms of cooperation within the Quad in areas like humanitarian and disaster relief, debt sustainability, supply chains, clean energy, connectivity and capacity-building, the PMO said.