Abstract The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad)—comprising India, the United States, Japan, and Australia—has transformed from a short-lived consultative mechanism in 2007 into a multidimensional platform that addresses both strategic and non-traditional security issues in the Indo-Pacific. This paper analyzes the Quad’s evolution, strategic potential, economic agenda, and role in providing public goods, while highlighting India’s unique dilemmas as both a continental and maritime power. Drawing upon realist, liberal institutionalist, and hedging theories, it argues that the Quad is neither a formal alliance nor a symbolic grouping, but a pragmatic minilateral experiment that balances power, fosters economic resilience, and delivers regional goods. Yet, challenges remain: divergent member priorities, informality, Chinese pushback, and resource asymmetries constrain its effectiveness. The paper concludes by proposing that India must move from cautious participation to proactive leadership, leveraging the Quad as a cornerstone of its Indo-Pacific strategy without sacrificing strategic autonomy.
Sisodia et al. (Sun,) studied this question.