Quad Summit 2021 Highlights: From Quad fellowship to India’s promise of 8 million Vaccine doses; Check details

US President Joe Biden hosted the first-ever Quad (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) leaders’ Summit at the White House on September 24, 2021. 

Quad Summit 2021 was attended by PM Modi, President Biden, Japan Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Reportedly, the Quad leaders summit was structured on- COVID-19 response; Afghanistan & Regional Security; Tech & Cyber Security; and Climate. 

The Quad members are the grouping of four nations- India, the US, Australia, and Japan. This was also the first-ever in-person Quad meet. The virtual meeting of the leaders was held in March 2021.

"The Quad- a force for global good," tweets the Prime Minister's Office pic.twitter.com/GDnxkrjtXs

— ANI (@ANI) September 24, 2021

PM Modi at Quad Leaders Summit 2021: Highlights

• Prime Minister Modi in his opening remarks at Quad Summit 2021 said that the four nations met for the first time after the 2004 Tsunami to help the Indo-pacific region. He added that today when the world has been fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic, the four nations have come here once again as Quad for the welfare of humanity.

Our four nations met for the first time after 2004 Tsunami to help the Indo-Pacific region. Today, when the world is fighting against #COVID19 pandemic, we have come here once again as Quad for the welfare of humanity: PM Narendra Modi's opening remarks at Quad Leaders' Summit pic.twitter.com/RQwNUQ8V73

— ANI (@ANI) September 24, 2021

• While talking about the Quad Vaccine initiative, Prime Minister Modi said that it will help the Indo-pacific nations. Quad has decided to go ahead with a positive approach on the basis of shared democratic values which include climate change, global security, COVID-19 response, or tech cooperation.

Our Quad vaccine initiative will help Indo-Pacific nations. Quad decided to go ahead with a positive approach on basis of our shared democratic values. I'd be happy to discuss with my friends-be it supply chain,global security,climate action,COVID response or tech cooperation: PM pic.twitter.com/AAWrl97Nsh

— ANI (@ANI) September 24, 2021

• Prime Minister Modi further said that Quad will work as a 'force for global good'. The cooperation in Quad will ensure peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region as well as the entire world. 

In a way, our Quad will work as a 'force for global good'. I believe that our cooperation in Quad will ensure peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific as well as the entire world: PM Narendra Modi's opening remarks at Quad Leaders' Summit pic.twitter.com/IXg9bXI1Sq

— ANI (@ANI) September 24, 2021

• The Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla while addressing the media after the Quad Summit informed that Prime Minister Modi during the meeting highlighted the issue of getting access for the Indian professionals to the US and mentioned H1B Visa. There was also a strong emphasis on trade and economic relations. 

PM Modi highlighted issue of getting access for Indian professionals to US&mentioned H1B visa. It'll be looked into.There was strong emphasis on trade&economic relations.The leaders felt to ask their concerned ministers to see how to impart greater dynamism:Harsh Vardhan Shringla

— ANI (@ANI) September 24, 2021

Quad Fellowship launched

The President of the United States while hosting the first in-person Quad summit in the White House said that the four Quad nations- India, US, Australia, and Japan- are launching a new Quad fellowship for students from each of the Quad countries to pursue the advanced degrees in the leading stem programs here in the United States, representing an investment in the innovators, leaders, and pioneers of tomorrow.

The Quad fellowship will sponsor 100 students per year- 25 from each Quad country- to pursue masters and doctoral degrees at the leading stem graduate universities in the United States. 

Today, we are also launching a new Quad fellowship for students from each of our Quad countries to pursue advanced degrees in leading stem programs here in the United States, representing an investment in the leaders, innovators & pioneers of tomorrow: US President Joe Biden pic.twitter.com/6AEpOvtIiK

— ANI (@ANI) September 24, 2021

At Quad's request, India to provide 8 million Janssen Vaccine doses

The Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringhla post the Quad summit informed that at Quad's request, Prime Minister Modi has said that India will make available 8 million doses of Johnson & Johnson's Janssen Vaccine, which is manufactured by Biological E in India. 

At Quad's request, PM Modi said India would make available 8 million doses of Johnson & Johnson's Janssen vaccine, manufactured in India by Biological E. This would be ready by October end & compatible with our decision to resume vaccine export:Foreign Secy Harsh Vardhan Shringla pic.twitter.com/tUyh1qro6o

— ANI (@ANI) September 24, 2021

Quad Summit 2021: PM Modi proposes common international travelling protocol

During the Quad leader's meeting, Prime Minister Modi proposed a common international travelling protocol involving the mutual recognition of the COVID-19 Vaccine Certificate. The proposal was well-received by all the Quad Leaders. 

PM Narendra Modi proposed a common international travelling protocol involving mutual recognition of the COVID19 (vaccination) certificate. It was well-received by all Quad leaders: Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla pic.twitter.com/VlynisGi7g

— ANI (@ANI) September 24, 2021

Quad countries pledge to donate more than 1.2 billion vaccine doses globally

In a joint statement, the four Quad leaders announced that they have pledged to donate more than 1.2 billion COVID-19 vaccines globally, in addition to the doses that they have financed through COVAX.

As Quad countries, we have pledged to donate more than 1.2 billion vaccine doses globally, in addition to the doses we have financed through COVAX: Quad countries in a joint statement, as quoted by White House pic.twitter.com/jJLXc6MEWD

— ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2021

Japan through Japan Bank for International Cooperation will work with India to enhance the key investments of approx $100 million in the healthcare sector related to COVID-19.

Quad Summit 2021: What will be on agenda?

• The official statement noted that the Quad leaders will focus on deepening the ties and advancing the practical cooperation in areas such as combating the Coronavirus pandemic, partnering on emerging technologies and cyberspace, addressing the climate crisis, and promoting free and open Indo-Pacific.

• As part of their ongoing effort to contain the pandemic, the Quad leaders during the summit will review the Quad vaccine initiative which was announced in March 2021.

• They will also review the progress made since the first virtual summit of Quad in March 2021 and will discuss the regional issues of shared interest.

• During Quad Summit, the views will be exchanged on contemporary global issues such as connectivity and infrastructure, critical and emerging technologies, maritime security, cyber security, climate change, humanitarian assistance/disaster relief.

• The recent developments in Afghanistan and rising global terror threats are also expected to be part of the discussion for four leaders.

PM Modi to visit US, address UNGA debate

Prime Minister Modi will visit the US for the summit and will also address the General-Debate of the High-Level Segment of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on September 25 in New York.

The theme of this year’s UNGA debate is ‘Building resilience through hope to recover from COVID-19, rebuild sustainably, responds to the need of the planet, respect the rights of people, and revitalize the United Nations.’

Quad virtual summit in March 2021

The first-ever virtual summit of the Quad leaders was held on March 12, 2021. The summit was attended by the leaders of the four nations- the US, Japan, Australia, and the US.

During the first Quad dialogue, the four leaders had stressed an open, free, and rule-based Indo-Pacific region that will be anchored by unconstrained coercion and democratic values.

The Quad leaders, in a joint statement, had said: “We bring diverse perspectives and are united in a shared vision for the free and open Indo-Pacific. We strive for a region which is free, open, healthy, inclusive, and unconstrained by coercion”.

About Quad:

The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue is a strategic dialogue between Japan, India, the US, and Australia.

The significant dialogue between the four nations was initiated in 2007 by the then Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe, Australian Prime Minister John Howard, US Vice President Dick Cheney, and the Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh.

The dialogue was ceased after the withdrawal of Australia during Kevin Rudd’s tenure as the Prime Minister. However, it was revived again during the 2017 ASEAN Summits, when the four leaders Narendra Modi, Shinzo Abe, Malcolm Turnbull, and Donald Trump agreed to revive the alliance.

Quad, the diplomatic and military engagement, was widely viewed as a response to China’s growing economic and military power in the Indo-Pacific region.