Seychelles Joins Colombo Security Conclave

Seychelles has formally become the newest member of the Colombo Security Conclave during the seventh National Security Adviser–level meeting held in New Delhi. The platform, focused on regional security cooperation in the Indian Ocean, continues to expand its collaborative framework among littoral states.

Conference Hosted in New Delhi

The meeting was chaired by India’s National Security Adviser and attended by delegations from existing member states, including Maldives, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. Seychelles participated as an Observer State before officially joining, while Malaysia joined the forum for the first time as a Guest State.

Review of Security Cooperation Progress

The first Secretary General, appointed by India, presented a detailed review of actions taken since the previous meeting in Mauritius. The review covered five key pillars: maritime security, counter-terrorism, tackling transnational crime, cyber security, and disaster relief. Member states assessed progress under each area and outlined the next steps for cooperation.

Emphasis on Shared Indian Ocean Heritage

India underscored that the Indian Ocean remains a collective heritage of the participating nations. The delegations were urged to maintain safety, stability, and security across the region. The shared maritime geography was highlighted as the core foundation for deeper collaboration and trust-building within the grouping.

Exam Oriented Facts

• The Colombo Security Conclave focuses on five pillars of regional cooperation.
• The seventh NSA-level meeting was hosted in New Delhi.
• Malaysia attended the conclave for the first time as a Guest State.
• Seychelles advanced from Observer State to full membership in the grouping.

Leadership and Participation of Member States

Delegations were led by senior security officials from all participating nations, including chiefs of national security agencies and defence forces. The members discussed enhanced training, capacity-building initiatives, and future activities aimed at strengthening collective security in the Indian Ocean region.