A Quadruple Strategy April 2025

How Raisina Dialogue created space for greater US-India cooperation. An extract

Admiral John C. Aquilino

One year later, in 2017, the Raisina Dialogue hosted the first panel that included the Quad nations and an academic panellist from Indonesia. Raisina’s efforts to push the boundaries on the Quad inspired Admiral Harris to recommend an official name change for the US’s oldest and largest combatant command. In 2018, at Admiral Harris’ change of command and retirement ceremony, Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis officially announced the name change from U.S. Pacific Command to U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, highlighting the connection and importance of the Indian and Pacific Oceans to the security landscape of the region.

Admiral Harris believed then, as I do now, that the US-India relationship represents the most significant opportunity for both countries in the twenty-first century. However, bold and audacious leadership is needed to expand and deepen the strategic partnership to harness the inherent potential of our two great democracies and the growing ties between our people, economies and governments.

Admiral Phil Davidson, my immediate predecessor, continued Admiral Harris’ efforts to make Raisina a crucial incubator for multilateral conversations that senior military officers across the region must have. Six months following the Raisina Dialogue in 2018 and the announcement of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command name change, the first-ever ‘two-plus-two’ meeting of the US’s and India’s top defence and diplomatic officials took place. The third foundational agreement, known as the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA), was also signed at that time, which provides the possibility of Indian military units gaining access to a secure Common Tactical Picture, in turn allowing Indian military units to receive data from the US and friendly counterparts during exercises or operations. In January 2019, Admiral Davidson sat on the first all-military officer panel at the Raisina Dialogue, which included the Quad nations and France. The panel underscored the need for multilateral collaboration between like-minded countries to maintain stability in the security landscape and a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.

A few months later, at the second two-plus-two between India and the US, the Industrial Security Annex (ISA) was signed, allowing for the transfer of techno