Which of the following statements about Quad is/are correct? 1. It is a group of four countries, namely, India, Australia, USA and France. 2. Maritime cooperation is an important binding force among members of the Quad. 3. The Quad members formed a working group on COVID-19 vaccines.

The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) is a strategic partnership comprising Australia, India, Japan, and the United States. Statement 1 is incorrect because France is not a member of the Quad. Statement 2 is correct as maritime security is a foundational pillar of the group's cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. Statement 3 is correct; the Quad members established a dedicated working group on COVID-19 vaccines, known as the Quad Vaccine Experts Group or the Quad Vaccine Partnership [1]. This initiative aimed to expand vaccine manufacturing capacity, particularly in India, and ensure equitable access across the Indo-Pacific [2]. The group has since evolved to include six leader-level working groups covering diverse challenges like climate and emerging technologies.

Sources

1. [1] https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/09/24/joint-statement-from-quad-leaders/
2. [2] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8570796/