India hosts 7th NSA-level meeting of Colombo Security Conclave in New Delhi
New Delhi, Nov 20: New Delhi on Thursday hosted the 7th National Security Adviser (NSA)-level meeting of the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC), bringing together key regional security officials to deepen cooperation on emerging challenges in the Indian Ocean Region. The meeting took place in New Delhi and was chaired by NSA Ajit Doval. The high-level meeting saw participation from CSC Member States, the Maldives, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, while Seychelles attended as an Observer State and Malaysia joined for the first time as a Guest country. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said the Conclave “continues to serve as a vital platform to promote closer cooperation between Member States on key security issues and strengthen partnerships for regional stability in the Indian Ocean Region.” The CSC, formed to enhance regional security collaboration, formally came into being after the signing of its Founding Documents in Sri Lanka in August 2024.
The New Delhi meeting, the first meeting of the Secretary General of the CSC, appointed by India, presented a detailed review of progress made since the 6th NSA-level meeting, held in Mauritius on 7–8 December 2023. The review covered developments under the five established pillars of cooperation, namely: Maritime safety and security, Countering terrorism and radicalisation, Combating trafficking and transnational organised crime, Cyber security & protection of critical infrastructure and technology, Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR). According to the official release, the presentation “outlined the activities undertaken over the past year and highlighted the need for sustained engagement and capacity building under all five pillars.”
Member States “reiterated their commitment to the vision and objectives of the CSC” and discussed ways to scale up cooperation, particularly through training, capacity building, and joint initiatives. The meeting also marked a significant development in the Conclave’s expansion. “The CSC Members welcomed the decision of the Republic of Seychelles to accede to the CSC as a full member,” the press release stated. The meeting reaffirmed the CSC’s role in coordinating regional responses to shared security challenges, especially those linked to the Indian Ocean. Officials emphasised the need to deepen practical cooperation among member nations to address evolving threats, particularly in maritime security, cyber infrastructure protection, and disaster preparedness. “The CSC has emerged as a key regional architecture for security collaboration, and India remains committed to supporting its growth and effectiveness,” the press release noted.
