NSA Ajit Doval Hosts Colombo Security Conclave, Focuses on Maritime and Cyber Security

New Delhi: The 7th National Security Advisor (NSA) Level Meeting of the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC), held in New Delhi on November 20, concluded with a renewed commitment from member nations to enhance regional cooperation across critical security domains. India's National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval, hosted the meeting, welcoming his counterparts from CSC member states: the Maldives, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.

The gathering provided a platform for member countries to discuss ways to deepen collaboration under the identified five pillars of cooperation, including Training and Capacity Building. The participants unanimously reaffirmed their commitment to the core vision and objectives of the Conclave, which seeks to foster closer coordination on crucial security matters within the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

A significant development during the meeting was the unanimous welcome extended to the Republic of Seychelles for its decision to join the CSC as a full member. This expansion signals the growing influence and relevance of the Conclave in addressing shared regional security challenges.

In a statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs, it was highlighted that during the 7th NSA level meeting, the first Secretary General appointed by India presented a comprehensive review of the decisions taken at the 6th NSA Level Meeting held in Mauritius on December 7-8, 2023, and the subsequent activities carried out under the five key pillars of cooperation. These pillars include:

Maritime Safety and Security;

Countering Terrorism and Radicalisation;

Countering Trafficking and Transnational Organised Crime;

Cyber Security and Protecting Critical Infrastructure and Technology; and

Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR).

Addressing the conference, NSA Doval underscored the increasing importance of the CSC amidst a rapidly evolving and challenging global security environment. He stressed that the sea is the greatest shared heritage of the member nations and acts as the engine driving their economies. "As nations bound by shared maritime geography, it is the responsibility of member states to ensure the stability, security, and protection of the region," Doval asserted, emphasizing the collective responsibility towards the Indian Ocean.

The meeting saw active participation, with Seychelles attending as an observer before its formal induction, and Malaysia participating as a special guest. The CSC was initially established to promote closer cooperation among member nations on critical security issues and to fortify partnerships for enhancing regional security in the Indian Ocean. The signing ceremony for the founding documents of the CSC was originally held in Sri Lanka in August 2024. The latest meeting reinforces the Conclave's dedication to creating a safer, more secure, and stable maritime environment for all participating countries.