Colombo Security Conclave

The Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) is a regional maritime security grouping in the Indian Ocean, bringing together India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Mauritius as members, with Bangladesh and Seychelles participating as observers. The organisation aims to enhance cooperation in security, maritime safety, and regional stability through joint initiatives, capacity building, and intelligence sharing.

Background and Establishment

The CSC traces its origins to 2011, when India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives began trilateral discussions on maritime security. These talks sought to strengthen collaboration in response to shared challenges such as piracy, terrorism, human trafficking, and illegal fishing in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
Over time, the trilateral evolved into a broader framework, with Mauritius joining as a full member in 2020. Bangladesh and Seychelles later joined as observers, reflecting the growing recognition of the CSC as an important regional forum. The grouping takes its name from Colombo, Sri Lanka, where its institutional framework was formalised.

Objectives

The Colombo Security Conclave has developed a broad security agenda with the following objectives:

• Maritime security and safety: Ensuring safe navigation, combating piracy, and addressing illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
• Counterterrorism and radicalisation: Enhancing regional cooperation against terrorism and violent extremism.
• Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR): Coordinating responses to natural disasters, including cyclones, tsunamis, and flooding.
• Cybersecurity: Addressing cyber threats through joint training and information sharing.
• Marine environment protection: Safeguarding coastal and marine ecosystems from pollution and climate-related risks.

Mechanisms and Activities

Meetings and Dialogues

• Regular National Security Adviser (NSA)-level meetings serve as the highest decision-making platform of the CSC.
• Working groups and expert-level dialogues address specific themes such as counterterrorism, cybersecurity, and HADR.

Joint Exercises

• Member states participate in joint maritime exercises, enhancing interoperability of naval and coast guard forces.
• Tabletop and simulation exercises are conducted to strengthen coordination in responding to emerging threats such as cyberattacks and terror incidents.

Capacity Building

• Training programmes for maritime security officials, law enforcement agencies, and cyber experts are organised under the CSC framework.
• Information-sharing platforms have been developed for real-time exchange on maritime domain awareness.

Strategic Significance

Regional Security Architecture

The CSC contributes to shaping the security architecture of the Indian Ocean Region, a strategic maritime corridor linking East and West. By addressing shared concerns, it enhances the collective ability of smaller states and India to safeguard their interests.

Complement to Other Initiatives

The CSC complements broader initiatives such as India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision, the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), and global frameworks for maritime cooperation.

Countering Transnational Threats

Given the porous nature of maritime borders in the Indian Ocean, the CSC helps states respond collectively to threats such as smuggling, narcotics trade, arms trafficking, and climate-related disasters.

Challenges

• Resource disparities among member states limit the ability of smaller nations to contribute equally.
• Overlapping memberships with other regional forums can create duplication of efforts.
• Geopolitical competition in the Indian Ocean, particularly the influence of external powers, may complicate consensus-building.
• Implementation gaps remain in translating agreements into coordinated actions on the ground.