US President Donald Trump has signed an annual defense policy bill that emphasizes strengthening America’s partnership with India.
The bill also mentions enhancing cooperation through the ‘Quadrilateral Security Dialogue’ (Quad) to promote a free and open environment in the Indo-Pacific region and to address challenges posed by China.
The ‘National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026’, signed on Thursday, authorizes funding for the Department of Defense, the national security programs of the Department of Energy, the Department of State, the Department of Homeland Security, intelligence agencies, and other executive departments and agencies for the fiscal year.
Trump said in a statement, “This Act will enable the Department of Defense to implement my agenda of achieving peace through strength, protecting the homeland from domestic and foreign threats, and strengthening the defense industrial base. It will curb funding for wasteful and burdensome programs that undermine the warfighting spirit of our nation’s military personnel.”
The Act outlines the ‘sense of Congress regarding defense alliances and partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region.’
Accordingly, the Secretary of Defense should continue efforts to strengthen US defense alliances and partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region to provide the United States with a comparative advantage in strategic competition with China.
The bill includes “promoting the shared objective of a free and open Indo-Pacific through the Quad, including participation in bilateral and multilateral dialogues, military exercises, expanded defense trade, and cooperation on humanitarian assistance and disaster response; and enhancing the India-US partnership by providing greater cooperation on maritime security.”
The Quad includes India, the US, Japan, and Australia. This group was formed in 2017 to counter China’s aggression in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Act states that the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of State, will establish a security framework to strengthen cooperation between the defense industrial bases of the United States and its allies and partner countries in the Indo-Pacific region.
Quadrilateral Security Dialogue
The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, commonly known as the “Quad,” is an informal strategic forum comprising the United States, Japan, Australia, and India. It was first initiated in 2007, briefly lapsed, and was revived in 2017 to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Its focus is on enhancing practical cooperation in areas such as maritime security, infrastructure, and humanitarian assistance, largely in response to China’s growing influence in the region.
Indo-Pacific region
The Indo-Pacific region is a vast maritime and cultural expanse stretching from the eastern coast of Africa to the Pacific Islands, historically connected by ancient trade routes like the Indian Ocean spice trade. It is not a single site but a strategic and ecological concept that has gained prominence in the 21st century, encompassing diverse civilizations, languages, and histories shaped by millennia of exchange, colonization, and independence movements. Today, it represents a crucial geopolitical and economic zone where the interests of many global powers intersect.
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026 is not a physical place or cultural site, but a proposed piece of United States federal legislation. It is an annual bill that authorizes funding levels and sets policies for the U.S. Department of Defense and other national security programs. Its history is part of a continuous legislative process, with each annual act building on previous versions to address the evolving budgetary and strategic needs of the U.S. military.
Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense (DoD) is the federal executive department responsible for coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the U.S. government related directly to national security and the military. It was established in 1947, consolidating the former War Department and the Department of the Navy, to create a unified military command structure in the aftermath of World War II. Headquartered at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, it oversees the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, and numerous defense agencies.
Department of Energy
The United States Department of Energy (DOE) is a cabinet-level federal agency established in 1977, primarily in response to the 1973 oil crisis, to consolidate energy policy and promote scientific innovation. Its history is deeply tied to the nation’s nuclear weapons program, as it inherited the functions of the earlier Atomic Energy Commission. Today, the DOE manages the country’s nuclear arsenal, funds cutting-edge scientific research, and oversees policies related to energy security, environmental cleanup, and technological advancement.
Department of State
The United States Department of State is the federal executive department responsible for conducting the nation’s foreign policy and international relations. It was established in 1789, making it the first executive department created following the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. Headquartered in the Harry S Truman Building in Washington, D.C., it is led by the Secretary of State and manages American diplomacy, negotiates treaties, and represents U.S. interests abroad.
Department of Homeland Security
The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is a federal agency created in response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, formally established by the Homeland Security Act of 2002. It is responsible for public security, overseeing a wide range of functions including border control, cybersecurity, disaster response, and counterterrorism by coordinating 22 different federal agencies under a single cabinet department.
Quad
The Quad is a central open lawn and gathering space found on many university campuses, particularly in the United States. Its history dates back to the traditional layout of early American colleges, which were often modeled after Oxford and Cambridge, featuring a central green space surrounded by academic buildings. It serves as a symbolic and functional heart of campus life for students, used for ceremonies, recreation, and social events.
