'Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad)' is transforming itself into a trade bloc from a military alliance, in present times. Discuss.

Use India-Japan ties to show that security cooperation among Indo-Pacific partners is deepening bilaterally, which tempers the claim of a shift away from military cooperation.

• Exercise Veer Guardian-2026 at Air Force Station Jodhpur (9 to 22 September) is reportedly the first time JASDF fighters have come to India for it, flying F-2As alongside IAF Tejas, Su-30 MKI and Rafale.
• India and Japan now hold exercises across all three services: Dharma Guardian (armies), JAIMEX (navies) and Veer Guardian (air forces), backed by a 2+2 dialogue and an Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement.
• Defence-industrial links are growing too: joint naval shipbuilding is being explored and the UNICORN integrated mast is being pursued with Bharat Electronics Limited.

Continuing India-U.S. drills and the Malabar exercise with Japan and Australia let you argue that security cooperation remains central even as economic agendas grow.

• The Malabar naval exercise with Japan and Australia runs alongside India-U.S. exercises such as Vajra Prahar, Cope India and SALVEX.
• Yudh Abhyas, begun in 2004 as counter-insurgency training, now covers conventional and hybrid threats and multi-domain operations in its 22nd edition.
• It is conducted under Operation Pathways, which aims to strengthen information sharing and interoperability with partner armies in the Indo-Pacific.