WILMINGTON DECLARATION – QUAD “At Sea” Observer Mission

Current Context: Under the Wilmington Declaration, the QUAD Coast Guards launched the first “At Sea Ship Observer Mission” on June 30, 2025—enhancing multinational maritime cooperation.

Highlights:

• Participants: Coast Guards of India, Japan, USA, and Australia.
• Operation: Two officers (including women) from each country boarded USCGC Stratton en route to Guam.
• Objectives:
  • Enhance interoperability, joint training, and domain awareness
  • Focus on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR)
  • Promote gender inclusion and reinforce India’s SAGAR and Indo‑Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) vision

Strategic Importance:

• Strengthens non-military maritime collaboration.
• Builds regional trust and aligns with a free, open, rules-based Indo-Pacific.