A new paper by Riya Sinha examines how India, the US, Japan, and Australia—individually and through the Quad—are shaping port development and connectivity across the Bay of Bengal. As global trade grows and China’s influence expands, the BoB’s underdeveloped port systems face rising strategic and economic pressures.

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• BoB handles ~30% of global trade; ports still lag modern needs
• Region faces deficits: weak infrastructure, outdated systems, poor digitisation
• India invests in domestic + neighbourhood ports for efficiency + strategic reach
• Quad identifies ports as strategic since 2021 Leaders’ Summit
• Quad focus: green shipping, smart ports, resilient infrastructure
• Each partner brings strengths: Japan finance, US tech, Australia capacity, India geography
• India uses Quad to counter China’s growing port influence
• Paper proposes 3 modes of India–Quad engagement
• Mode 1: Bilateral → full control but less access to Quad resources
• Mode 2: Hybrid cooperation → tech gains but complex coordination
• Mode 3: Full Quad integration → faster development but reduced autonomy
• India must balance geopolitics, regional sensitivities, and development needs