The 7th National Security Adviser (NSA) level meeting of the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) was held in New Delhi on Thursday, where member states reiterated their commitment to the vision and objectives of the CSC, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.
NSA Ajit Doval hosted his counterparts from member states, including the Maldives, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. Seychelles participated as an observer state, while Malaysia attended as a guest.
The CSC, established to strengthen cooperation among member states on key security issues in the Indian Ocean Region, signed its founding documents in Sri Lanka in August 2024. The conclave focuses on five pillars of cooperation: Maritime Safety and Security; Countering Terrorism and Radicalisation; Combating Trafficking and Transnational Organised Crime; Cyber Security and Protection of Critical Infrastructure and Technology; and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief.
Addressing the conclave, Doval described the global security environment as “challenging” and called on countries of the Indian Ocean region to work together to ensure the “safety, security and stability” of the maritime domain.
The NSA noted that the CSC has gained more importance amid shifting geopolitical dynamics. Recalling the decision in 2020 to consolidate regional cooperation, Doval said, “Realising the growing importance of strengthening regional partnerships among the countries of the Indian Ocean region, we came together in 2020 to reinforce cooperation on vital matters of security through the establishment of the Colombo Security Conclave.”
Reviewing progress since the previous meeting in Mauritius in December 2023, Doval said, “I am happy that our engagements have gained momentum since the sixth NSA meeting. The strength and success of this group lies in our common vision, consultations and convergence of objectives.”
Doval highlighted steps taken to institutionalise CSC mechanisms, including initiatives across its five pillars of cooperation. “We have been building our capacities through regular engagements across the five pillars. We adopted the CSC charter and the MOU on the establishment of the CSC Secretariat in August last year. We also appointed the first Secretary General of the CSC earlier this year”, he said..
On maritime priorities, Doval underscored the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean. “The ocean is our biggest heritage. It is the engine that propels our economies,” he said, adding that countries sharing maritime geographies have a joint responsibility. “It is our responsibility to ensure the safety, security and stability of the region.”
The NSA called for shaping an open and rules-based maritime environment, saying, “We need to shape a favourable environment to nurture an open, inclusive maritime domain and conformity to a rule-based order.” Doval also stressed the need for joint stewardship of maritime resources. “We also need to work closely for the preservation and use of our common maritime heritage.”
Reaffirming India’s commitment to regional cooperation, Doval said, “India is committed to continue working closely with all CSC countries to enhance our collective capacities in dealing with evolving and emerging security challenges.”
(with ANI input)