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Picture Courtesy:  THE HINDU

Context

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

What is Colombo Security Conclave (CSC)?

It is a regional security grouping of Indian Ocean nations to promote cooperation on maritime security and address shared threats like terrorism, trafficking, and cybercrime.

It serves as a key platform for National Security Advisors (NSAs) of member countries to coordinate on regional security policy.

A permanent secretariat was established in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in 2024. 

Evolution and Membership

• 2011: The grouping originated as a Trilateral Maritime Security Dialogue between India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives.
• 2014-2020: Activities were paused due to political tensions between some member states.
• 2020: India initiated the revival of the dialogue, rebranding it as the Colombo Security Conclave to reflect its expanded scope.
• 2022: Mauritius was inducted as the fourth full member.
• 2024: Bangladesh officially joined as the fifth member of the conclave.
• November 2025: Seychelles, previously an observer, joined as the sixth full member during the 7th NSA-level meeting in New Delhi.

Pillars of Cooperation

The cooperation under the CSC is structured around five key pillars, which form the core agenda for its activities and joint initiatives.

• Maritime Safety and Security: Enhancing cooperation to secure sea lanes, conduct joint surveillance, and combat piracy.
• Countering Terrorism and Radicalisation: Sharing intelligence and coordinating efforts to disrupt terrorist networks and counter extremist ideologies.
• Combating Trafficking and Transnational Organised Crime: Jointly tackling illicit activities such as human trafficking, narcotics smuggling, and arms trade.
• Cyber Security and Protection of Critical Infrastructure: Building collective capability to defend against cyber-attacks and protect essential digital and physical infrastructure.
• Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR): Collaborating on disaster response, search and rescue operations, and capacity building for crisis management. 

What is India's Role and Strategic Interest in the Colombo Security Conclave?

Alignment with SAGAR Vision

The SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) policy positions India as a key net security provider in the Indian Ocean. The CSC, a concrete representation of this policy, strengthens economic and security ties with India's maritime neighbours.

Countering Extra-Regional Influence

The conclave acts as a regional security framework to counter the growing strategic influence of non-regional powers, like China, in the Indian Ocean, strengthening the strategic autonomy of smaller island nations.

First Responder and Capacity Building

It institutionalizes India as the regional 'first responder' in crises, offering a framework to build capacity, train, and share resources for enhancing neighbours' security capabilities.

Addressing Common Threats

It allows for a unified approach to transnational threats that no single country can address alone, such as maritime piracy, terrorism, and illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

What are the Challenges Facing the CSC?

Political Instability and Divergence

Domestic political shifts can alter member states' foreign policy, such as the Bangladesh' recent government change causing a foreign policy concern, creating uncertainty and challenging group cohesion.

Asymmetry in Capabilities

Disparity in the naval and coast guard capacities among members. India possesses a large and modern maritime force, while smaller island nations have limited resources, which affect the scale and complexity of joint initiatives.

China's Counter-Initiatives

China is building its own regional framework, excluding India, by launching parallel forums like the 'China-Indian Ocean Region Forum on Development Cooperation,' to reduce the influence of platforms such as the CSC. 

Way Forward to strengthen Colombo Security Conclave 

Strengthen the Secretariat

Empower the Colombo-based secretariat with a dedicated budget and staff to effectively coordinate and monitor the implementation of projects.

Focus on Deliverables

Prioritize concrete outcomes, such as establishing joint training centers for maritime security, conducting regular operations, and creating a shared database for counter-terrorism intelligence.

Gradual Expansion

Future expansion of membership should be cautious and strategic, ensuring new members share the conclave's core values of a rules-based maritime order.

Conclusion

The Colombo Security Conclave is a vital, region-led, practical, and action-oriented security architecture that focuses on non-traditional threats and cooperation, aligning with India's strategic vision for a safer, more secure, and prosperous Indian Ocean Region.

Source: THE HINDU