QUAD at Sea Ship Observer Mission

Context: The QUAD at Sea Ship Observer Mission has been launched by the coast guards of QUAD nations recently under the Wilmington Declaration.

About the Mission

• Participants: The initiative is launched by the Indian Coast Guard, Japan Coast Guard, United States Coast Guard, and Australian Border Force.
• The initiative will involve two officers from each nation, embarked on board the United States Coast Guard Cutter Stratton.
• Objective: To strengthen and deepen maritime cooperation which is free, open, inclusive and rules-based in the Indo-Pacific.
• Significance: The mission will reinforce joint maritime readiness through enhanced interoperability, domain awareness, humanitarian assistance  and operational coordination. 

India’s Participation

• The Indian participation will help reinforce its strategic maritime vision of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and complement national efforts under the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI).

Wilmington Declaration (2024)

• It was issued by the leaders of the QUAD nations during the QUAD Leaders’ Summit in Wilmington, USA.
• It reaffirms the commitment of the QUAD nations to ensuring a free, open, inclusive, and resilient Indo-Pacific, with an emphasis on respecting:
  • Rule of law
  • Democracy
  • Territorial integrity

Ottawa Convention

Context: Recently, Ukraine has withdrawn from the Ottawa Convention.

Anti-Personnel Landmines Convention, 1997

• It is an international agreement aimed at eliminating the use, production, stockpiling, and transfer of anti-personnel landmines.
  • Commonly known as the Ottawa Convention or Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty.
  • It includes provisions to assist victims, many of whom have lost limbs and suffer from other permanent disabilities.
• Adopted: September 1997 at the Diplomatic Conference in Oslo.
• Came into Effect: March 1999.
• Scope
  • Prohibits anti-personnel mines only.
  • Does not cover anti-vehicle or anti-tank mines.
• Obligation: Signatories were required to destroy all anti-personnel landmine stockpiles within four years of joining.
• Current Parties: 166 States (as of June 2025).
• 2025: Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia,Finland and Ukriane decide to leave the Ottawa Treaty.
• Non-Parties: India, US, Russia, China, Pakistan have not signed or ratified the treaty.

About Anti-Personnel Landmines

• Anti-personnel landmines are generally hidden in the ground and designed to detonate automatically when someone steps on them or passes nearby.
• Purpose: To target enemy personnel (troops) and to destroy or disable armored vehicles.
• More than 80% of mine victims are civilians, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

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