US May Replace India With Philippines in Quad Amid Tensions
The article discusses the possibility of the US replacing India with the Philippines in the Quad alliance due to strained US-India relations under the Trump administration. It highlights recent defense meetings involving the US, Japan, Australia, and the Philippines, and questions the future of the Quad without India's involvement.
The article explores the uncertain future of the Quad alliance, originally revived by Donald Trump in 2017 to counter China's influence in the Indo-Pacific. It notes that recent tensions between the US and India, including high tariffs and diplomatic slights, have led to speculation that the US might replace India with the Philippines in the Quad. The article points to a recent meeting of defense ministers from the US, Japan, Australia, and the Philippines, which discussed increased deterrence and readiness in the South China Sea, echoing themes from Quad press releases. The author argues that India's centrality to the Quad and the broader Indo-Pacific strategy cannot be easily replaced, as India's size, economy, and military power are crucial for the alliance's effectiveness. The article concludes by emphasizing that while the US may signal that India is not irreplaceable, the loss of India would undermine the Quad's purpose and the US's Indo-Pacific strategy.
