A timely meeting of the long-running Quad Plus Dialogue was convened virtually on 15 June 2022. This iteration of the dialogue was hosted by the Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA), Japan. As the designated think-tank representing India, VIF participated as a key dialogue partner. Participating think-tanks representing the other Quad partners included the Heritage Foundation, USA and the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), Australia. The Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS), Germany and the Institute for National Defense and Security Research (INSDR), Taiwan joined in as ‘Plus Partners’.

As a result of subsequent meetings and frequent consultations, the Quad’s agenda has become increasingly broad and extensive. The Quad has been flourishing and the momentum from last year’s landmark leaders’ summit continues to be maintained. Following the second Quad Leaders’ Summit recently held in Tokyo, the meeting agenda was centrally focussed on assessing the ‘Quad leaders’ summit amid the international crisis and the way forward’. In the ensuing brainstorming session, the participants engaged in a stimulating discussion on the future of the Quad, the veracity of the newly announced initiatives and the prospect of enlarging the Quad with the addition of Plus Partners such as South Korea. The rich discussion during the brainstorming session allowed for the emergence of several important takeaways regarding situating the Quad in the Indo-Pacific as a key geo-strategic entity and the way forward.