• National Security Adviser Ajit Doval underlined the importance of regional grouping Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) in ensuring security and stability in the region.

• He made the remarks while addressing the sixth National Security Adviser level meeting of the CSC at Port Louis in Mauritius on December 7.

• The Member States of the Colombo Security Conclave comprising India, Maldives, Mauritius and Sri Lanka participated in the meeting. 

• Bangladesh and Seychelles are observers in the grouping.

Colombo Security Conclave

• The Colombo Security Conclave was founded as a trilateral security framework between India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives in 2011.

• Mauritius joined the conclave at the fifth NSA-level meeting of the Conclave in March 2022.

• Bangladesh and Seychelles have been joining the meetings of the erstwhile trilateral on maritime cooperation as well as the CSC as observer states.

Cooperation under the CSC focuses on five pillars. They are:

i) Maritime safety and security.

ii) Countering terrorism and radicalisation.

iii) Combating trafficking and transnational organised crime.

iv) Cyber security and protection of critical infrastructure and technology.

v) Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

• At the meeting in Port Louis, the member states reviewed the progress of the decisions taken at the previous NSA-level meeting.

• The member states reiterated the role and responsibility of the CSC in ensuring the safety, security and stability of the Indian Ocean region from traditional and non-traditional threats, it is learnt.

• Over the past year, the members of the grouping and observer states have participated in several activities that include investigation of terrorism cases, narcotics trafficking, cybercrime, countering the financing of terrorism, marine pollution, oceanography and hydrography.

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