NEW DELHI: Unfazed by uncertainty hanging over the proposed summit in November, Quad cooperation at ground level remains intact with the focus this month on counterterrorism workshops.These will include a technical exchange on misuse of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) drones by terrorists and a seminar on preventing terrorist exploitation of new and emerging technologies, including for terror-financing. India has taken note of US ambassador-designate Sergio Gor’s remarks during his confirmation hearing that President Donald Trump remains committed to a meeting of Quad leaders and to strengthen the strategic grouping of Australia, India, Japan and the US that acts as a bulwark against threats to a free and open Indo-Pacific. Trump’s efforts to mend ties with China, including through a landmark trade deal under discussion, have been seen as possible impediments in Quad’s progress even though the foreign ministers have met twice since Trump returned to the White House. The technical exchange on misuse of drones will be conducted by the National Security Guard (NSG) on Sept 23-24 at the NSG Garrison in Manesar. “The exercise will focus on identification of evolving UAS, framework for international cooperation by sharing best practices, subject matter expert exchange and refined national level policies for countering terrorist use of UAS or drones,” said a source on condition of anonymity. It’s important for India that counterterrorism remains a priority for Quad, as evident from its strong condemnation of the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack in the foreign ministers’ meeting in Washington in July. While India would have liked a swifter response in the days that followed the attack but the fact that the condemnation eventually came in the strongest possible terms and called for the “perpetrators, organizers, and financiers of this reprehensible act to be brought to justice without any delay” was significant for India.The Quad seminar on terrorist exploitation of new and emerging technology will be hosted by the NIA on Sept 26. It will address, according to official sources, emerging threat from terrorists by exploitation of new emerging technologies such as AI, blockchain, cryptocurrencies, deepfake technologies, encrypted chat platform and metaverse. “It aims to strengthen countermeasures against these threats, collaboration among Quad members through intelligence sharing, capacity building and engaging institutions and research organisations to develop safeguard against misuse by terrorists,” the source said.Looking to boost India-Pacific security and prosperity, Quad will also formally launch its Ports of the Future Partnership next month with India hosting a transportation and logistics conference in Mumbai. According to a White House factsheet, the initiative will complement the work Quad partners have done to boost infrastructure expertise across the Indo-Pacific region through the Quad Infrastructure Fellowships Program. While basic Quad cooperation continues, bilateral defence collaboration with the US seems to have escaped unscathed from the downturn in India-US ties.
