Abstract
<jats:p>This chapter examines Indo-Pacific maritime security through comparative analysis of the QUAD and AUKUS frameworks. The QUAD employs soft power through UNCLOS advocacy, maritime domain awareness, capacity-building, and infrastructure development to foster rules-based cooperation and regional trust. AUKUS deploys hard power via nuclear-powered submarines, advanced military technologies, and joint patrols to provide credible deterrence against coercion. The analysis demonstrates that while each framework operates distinctly, their strategic integration produces synergistic outcomes: QUAD surveillance capabilities inform AUKUS enforcement operations, while AUKUS military assets secure QUAD infrastructure investments. The chapter argues that effective Indo-Pacific maritime security requires balanced approaches combining QUAD's normative influence with AUKUS's deterrent capabilities.</jats:p>