By: Staff Writer
September 01, Colombo (LNW): The Colombo Security Conclave (CSC), comprising India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Mauritius, and Bangladesh, has taken significant strides towards enhancing regional security cooperation by finalizing its charter and agreeing to establish a permanent secretariat. These developments were formalized during a ceremony hosted by Sri Lanka on August 30, 2024.
The CSC, initially formed in 2020 as a trilateral alliance between India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives, aimed to strengthen maritime and security collaboration within the Indian Ocean region. Over time, the group expanded its membership to include Mauritius and Bangladesh, with the Seychelles serving as an observer.
The recent event in Colombo saw the signing of both the CSC Charter and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the creation of the CSC Secretariat. The documents were signed by Ajit Doval, India’s National Security Adviser (NSA), alongside his counterparts from the Maldives, Mauritius, and Sri Lanka.
Curiously, Bangladesh did not participate in the signing, which some sources attributed to the recent change in government in Dhaka. Although it was expected that Bangladesh’s envoy to Sri Lanka would be the signatory, the absence remains unexplained.
The CSC’s core mission is to promote regional security by addressing transnational threats and challenges shared by member states. The Conclave’s cooperation is anchored on five key pillars: maritime safety and security, counterterrorism and radicalization, combating trafficking and transnational organized crime, cybersecurity, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
Ajit Doval’s visit to Colombo underscored the importance of the CSC in maintaining security and stability in the Indian Ocean Region. He highlighted the Founding Documents as crucial for reinforcing CSC’s role and emphasized the need for sustained, collective efforts to address traditional, non-traditional, and emerging hybrid challenges across the region.
The CSC meeting concluded with discussions on the next steps and future activities. This included potential initiatives under the CSC’s five pillars of cooperation, which are designed to address pressing security issues in the region.
In addition to his participation in the CSC event, Ajit Doval met with Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.
Their discussions focused on ongoing economic collaboration between India and Sri Lanka, a key aspect of the bilateral relationship.
Doval also engaged with other political leaders in Colombo, including the Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa and representatives from various political factions, signifying India’s broader engagement in Sri Lanka’s political landscape.
The establishment of the CSC Secretariat marks a pivotal step in the institutionalization of the Conclave, ensuring that regional security cooperation remains structured and effective in addressing the myriad challenges facing the Indian Ocean region.
