Indo-Pacific Four (IP-4)

The Indo-Pacific Four (IP-4) is an informal strategic grouping consisting of Australia, Japan, the Republic of Korea (South Korea), and New Zealand, representing the four close Indo-Pacific partner countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). This grouping symbolises a growing convergence between the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic security spheres in response to the evolving global strategic environment, particularly the rise of China, North Korea’s provocations, and Russia’s increasing assertiveness. The IP-4 reflects a shared commitment among these democracies to uphold a rules-based international order, enhance cross-regional security cooperation, and promote stability, peace, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

Background and Evolution

The Indo-Pacific region has emerged as the geopolitical and economic centre of gravity in the 21st century. With its vital sea lanes, economic dynamism, and strategic chokepoints, the region influences global security and trade. Simultaneously, challenges such as China’s assertive behaviour in the South and East China Seas, North Korea’s nuclear ambitions, regional militarisation, and cyber threats have underscored the need for broader multilateral security engagement.
Historically, NATO’s focus was confined to the Euro-Atlantic area, but recent global developments especially Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the growing strategic partnership between Moscow and Beijing have driven NATO to recognise the interlinkages between European and Indo-Pacific security. This shift was formalised in the NATO 2022 Madrid Summit, which for the first time invited the leaders of Australia, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand to participate together. Their joint participation laid the foundation for what is now referred to as the Indo-Pacific Four (IP-4).
The IP-4 countries had already been close security partners of the United States and shared overlapping interests with European allies in maintaining regional stability, freedom of navigation, and open trade routes. Their grouping within the NATO framework, however, provided an institutional recognition of their collective strategic relevance. The IP-4 does not constitute a formal alliance but serves as a coordinating platform for dialogue and cooperation between NATO and its Indo-Pacific partners.

Membership and Common Characteristics

The IP-4 encompasses four democratic, maritime, and technologically advanced nations located strategically across the Indo-Pacific arc. While each has unique national interests, they share common values and objectives.

1. Australia: A longstanding ally of the United States and a member of the AUKUS and Quad groupings, Australia plays a key role in the southern Indo-Pacific. It prioritises safeguarding freedom of navigation and promoting a stable maritime environment, especially amid growing Chinese influence in the Pacific Islands.
2. Japan: Japan possesses one of the most advanced defence capabilities in Asia and has a pacifist constitution that has evolved to allow a more proactive defence posture. Tokyo is increasingly focused on deterring Chinese assertiveness near the Senkaku Islands and maintaining regional security through partnerships with NATO and Indo-Pacific allies.
3. Republic of Korea (South Korea): South Korea faces the persistent threat of North Korea’s nuclear and missile programmes. While traditionally focused on the Korean Peninsula, Seoul’s engagement through the IP-4 reflects a growing recognition that regional and global security are interconnected.
4. New Zealand: Though smaller in size, New Zealand plays a symbolic and diplomatic role, championing international law, nuclear disarmament, and the rules-based order. It complements the group by providing a balanced voice and supporting multilateralism in global governance.

All four members are liberal democracies, committed to freedom of navigation, transparency, human rights, and international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Their cooperation signifies the strategic alignment of Indo-Pacific democracies with Euro-Atlantic allies in addressing cross-regional challenges.

Objectives and Strategic Rationale

The formation of the IP-4 serves multiple strategic purposes:

• Bridging Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific security: Recognising that developments in one region affect the other, the IP-4 acts as a conduit between NATO’s Euro-Atlantic framework and the Indo-Pacific security environment.
• Maintaining a rules-based international order: The group collectively advocates for adherence to international law, opposing coercion and unilateral actions that threaten peace and stability.
• Countering strategic challenges: The IP-4 provides a coordinated response to common challenges such as China’s military expansion, Russia’s outreach in Asia, cyber warfare, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
• Promoting global partnerships: The IP-4 allows NATO to extend its partnerships without formal enlargement, promoting dialogue and coordination with like-minded democracies.

Areas of Cooperation

The IP-4 and NATO collaborate across multiple domains that reflect shared interests and emerging global priorities:

1. Maritime Security:
   • Ensuring freedom of navigation and security of sea lanes in the Indo-Pacific, particularly in the South China Sea and East China Sea.
   • Conducting joint naval exercises and enhancing maritime domain awareness.
2. Cybersecurity and Emerging Technologies:
   • Cooperation on cyber defence, data protection, and resilience against disinformation campaigns.
   • Joint initiatives in artificial intelligence, quantum technology, and secure digital infrastructure.
3. Defence and Strategic Dialogue:
   • Regular consultations between defence ministers and foreign policy officials.
   • Participation in NATO summits, working groups, and joint training exercises.
4. Supply Chain Resilience and Economic Security:
   • Coordination to secure critical supply chains in sectors such as semiconductors, rare earth elements, and energy resources.
   • Promoting standards for critical infrastructure security.
5. Climate and Human Security:
   • Addressing climate-related security risks, humanitarian crises, and disaster response cooperation.

Through these mechanisms, the IP-4 acts as a platform for cross-regional knowledge-sharing, joint capacity-building, and political coordination.

Significance in the Current Geopolitical Context

The Indo-Pacific Four embodies the globalisation of security cooperation in an era of interconnected threats. Its significance lies in several key aspects:

• Integration of security theatres: The IP-4 represents NATO’s evolving strategic approach, recognising that instability in the Indo-Pacific can directly influence European security, especially through alliances like Russia–China cooperation.
• Response to China’s assertiveness: The grouping provides a diplomatic and strategic counterweight to China’s expanding influence, infrastructure projects, and military build-up in the Indo-Pacific.
• Support for Ukraine and European security: All IP-4 nations condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and provided humanitarian or material assistance, reflecting their alignment with Euro-Atlantic values.
• Promotion of democratic solidarity: The group underscores the unity of democracies across two oceans in defence of global stability and shared norms.

Challenges and Limitations

Despite its growing prominence, the IP-4 faces several structural and political constraints:

• Informal Nature: The grouping lacks formal institutional structure or binding commitments, relying instead on consensus and voluntary cooperation.
• Diverse Priorities: Member nations have differing regional focuses Japan and South Korea on Northeast Asia, Australia on the Pacific, and New Zealand on diplomatic engagement making coordination complex.
• Geopolitical Sensitivities: China perceives the IP-4 and NATO’s Indo-Pacific outreach as attempts at containment, raising regional tensions and complicating bilateral relations for some members.
• Dependency on NATO and the U.S.: The grouping’s vitality depends largely on sustained engagement from NATO and U.S. leadership.
• Domestic Political Constraints: Shifts in domestic politics or leadership changes could alter national priorities and affect commitment levels.

Despite these challenges, the IP-4 remains a practical instrument for cooperation rather than a military bloc, allowing flexibility in addressing shared concerns without provoking overt confrontation.

Future Prospects

The IP-4’s evolution is likely to deepen in several directions:

• Institutional Consolidation: Although informal, it may develop into a more structured consultation mechanism, including annual ministerial meetings or thematic working groups.
• Enhanced NATO Linkages: The group will continue to act as NATO’s primary channel of engagement in the Indo-Pacific, facilitating participation in joint exercises and defence dialogues.
• Technological and Economic Integration: Focus may shift toward securing critical technologies, supply chains, and energy infrastructure.
• Expanded Global Role: The IP-4 may serve as a bridge between Indo-Pacific frameworks such as the Quad (Australia, India, Japan, U.S.) and Euro-Atlantic initiatives, fostering a more cohesive global network of democracies.
• Conflict Prevention and Crisis Response: The group could coordinate responses to humanitarian disasters, regional conflicts, or cyber crises through shared resources and planning.

The growing convergence between the IP-4 and NATO indicates a long-term strategic trend toward cross-regional alliance-building, driven by shared values and the need to protect global commons.