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Quad partners have conducted the first successful round of the new field training exercise (FTX) at US Andersen Air Force Base in Guam as a part of the Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network (IPLN).
The joint exercise between Australia, India, Japan, and the United States lasted from 8 to 12 December and saw a range of logistics and training methods shared among the partners.
The US State Department said that FTX is a display of the Quad partners’ commitment to create a strong base of support for regional and Pacific nations.
“FTX focused on interoperability and coordination between Quad partners’ capabilities … this reflected the Quad’s commitment to strengthening practical cooperation to address regional challenges and to ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific,” the department said in a statement.
The IPLN seeks to enable Quad nations to respond to natural disasters and large-scale national concerns at a rapid rate across the Indo-Pacific region. The network further aims to boost civilian responses and provide any additional regional support needed in contested times.
The FTX’s primary objective was to increase disaster response capacity through a range of exercises. Personnel boarded a Japan Air Self-Defence Force C-130H transport aircraft as an example of increasing interoperable capacity.
Earlier this year, Foreign Minister Penny Wong met with Quad partners in Washington to continue discussions of the aims of the multi-nation collaboration.
“To ensure the Quad’s enduring impact, we are pleased to announce today a new, ambitious, and strong agenda focused on four key areas: maritime and transnational security, economic prosperity and security, critical and emerging technology, and humanitarian assistance and emergency response,” a joint July statement said.
“Through this renewed focus, we will sharpen the Quad’s ability to leverage our resources to address the region’s most pressing challenges.”
