WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — Twenty years after the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, Australia, India, Japan, and the United States—collectively known as the Quad—are reaffirming their commitment to humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and regional stability. The partnership, which began as a response to one of the worst natural disasters in history, has grown into a multifaceted alliance aimed at addressing the Indo-Pacific’s most pressing challenges.
The 2004 tsunami took nearly 250,000 lives and displaced 1.7 million people in 14 countries, prompting the Quad to launch a massive emergency response. The four countries collectively deployed over 40,000 emergency responders to assist affected communities, making it one of the largest international relief efforts in the region’s history.
“We commemorate the memories of those who have passed and acknowledge those who survived this tragedy and families affected by this disaster,” read a joint statement from the Quad. “Our core commitment towards humanitarian assistance and disaster relief continues to be an integral part.
In 2024, the Quad countries supported disaster preparedness and relief efforts throughout the Indo-Pacific. Their collaboration in responding to disasters has strengthened over time, with a focus on improving rapid response capabilities and supporting long-term recovery initiatives. This commitment has evolved into addressing a broader range of challenges beyond disaster relief.
The statement said, “What started as a response to the immediate need from a disaster had blossomed into a partnership achieving tangible benefits to the people in our region”. The Quad engages in efforts for climate change and pandemics control, infrastructure, cybersecurity, countering terrorism; it also discusses maritime domain awareness and promotion of STEM education all over the Indo-Pacific.
Since 2021, the leaders of the Quad have met annually, further solidifying the importance of the partnership in maintaining stability in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific. The leaders share a vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific, which they describe as peaceful, stable, and prosperous.
The Quad reaffirmed its support to regional organizations such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Pacific Islands Forum. The organization underlined that ASEAN would remain at the center of regional architecture in the Indo-Pacific. It also embraced the Indian Ocean Rim Association as the region’s premier organization.
The partnership reflects how the Quad continues to adapt itself to address newer challenges and new issues with unrelenting attention on the requirement for future engagement in the Indo-Pacific. “We remain committed to working together to ensure that the Quad continues to deliver for the people of our region,” the group concluded.
