What is Colombo Security Conclave?

• The 7th National Security Adviser (NSA) level meeting of the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) was held in New Delhi on November 20.

• NSA Ajit Doval hosted his counterparts from Member States including Maldives, Mauritius, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. 

• Seychelles participated as an Observer State, and Malaysia as a Guest.

• The CSC Member States also discussed ways of enhancing cooperation under identified pillars, including through training and capacity building. 

• They reiterated their commitment to the vision and objectives of CSC. 

• The CSC Members welcomed the decision of Seychelles to accede to the CSC as a full member.

Colombo Security Conclave

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

• It has since expanded to include Mauritius and Bangladesh as members, and the Seychelles as an observer. 

• CSC deals with maritime security, counter-terrorism and cybersecurity with India bringing to the fore its own strategic concerns in the Indian Ocean.

• The CSC’s core objective is to promote regional security by addressing transnational threats and challenges of common concern to the Member 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.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants.)