New Delhi, June 30 -- In a landmark step towards deepening maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, the Coast Guards of the QUAD nations--India, Japan, the United States and Australia--have launched a multilateral initiative titled the "QUAD at Sea Ship Observer Mission", said an official statement.

This strategic cross-embarkation initiative sees two officers, including women officer, from each participating nation embarked onboard the United States Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) Stratton, currently en route to Guam, USA.

Anchored in the Wilmington Declaration adopted at the QUAD Leaders' Summit (September 2024), the mission reflects the collective resolve of the QUAD to strengthen a Free, Open, Inclusive, and Rules-Based Indo-Pacific. It...