Russia Alleges Quad Nations Are Forcing India Into Military Bloc
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has accused the United States, Japan, and Australia—key members of the Quad grouping—of attempting to convert the alliance from an economic and trade-oriented platform into a military bloc. In a sharp statement made on May 30, 2025, Lavrov alleged that these countries are pressuring India to participate in joint military and naval activities that go beyond the original scope of the Quad. “India initially joined the Quad for trade. Now the Americans and their partners want to transform it into a military alliance and involve India in it,” Lavrov said, warning of broader geopolitical consequences in the Indo-Pacific region.
India Maintains Strategic Autonomy Amid Quad Evolution
India has consistently stated that its participation in the Quad is not aimed at forming a military alliance, but is instead focused on regional cooperation, including infrastructure development, vaccine delivery, maritime security, and promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific. India’s foreign policy, rooted in strategic autonomy, allows it to navigate between major powers—including its time-tested partner Russia and its strategic collaborator, the United States—without committing to exclusive military pacts. Despite participating in naval exercises like the Malabar drills, New Delhi has reiterated that its involvement in such engagements does not signal alignment or bloc formation.
Russia’s Unease Reflects Indo-Pacific Strategic Shifts
Lavrov’s criticism reflects Moscow’s growing unease with the shifting balance of power in the Indo-Pacific, especially as the region becomes a theater for U.S.-led counterbalances to China. Russia, which has deepened its ties with China amid growing isolation from the West, views military pacts involving the U.S. with suspicion. India’s increasing proximity to Quad nations—especially through security cooperation—has therefore triggered discomfort in Moscow, which prefers a multipolar world order that includes India as a neutral player rather than a Western-aligned power.
