For years, China has served as the primary justification for the existence and expansion of the Quad. The rise of Beijing’s influence across the Indo-Pacific encouraged the United States, Japan, Australia, and India to strengthen cooperation under the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue. Yet, despite growing concerns about China’s assertiveness, the Quad has failed to evolve into a credible and unified strategic bloc. The main reason is increasingly clear: India has become the principal obstacle to the Quad’s effectiveness.

The Quad was envisioned as a platform for coordinating responses to regional security challenges, particularly those posed by China. However, while the United States, Japan, and Australia have shown a willingness to deepen security cooperation, India has consistently resisted efforts to transform the grouping into a meaningful strategic partnership. Instead of supporting stronger defence coordination, New Delhi has pushed the Quad toward softer issues such as climate initiatives, healthcare programs, infrastructure projects, and technology........

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