News Excerpt:
The Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) officially welcomed Bangladesh as its fifth member state during the 8th Deputy National Security Adviser (DNSA) level meeting hosted by Mauritius, while Seychelles participated as an observer state.
Colombo Security Conclave (CSC):
- CSC is a regional security cooperation framework that originated in 2011 from trilateral meetings between the National Security Advisors (NSAs) and Deputy NSAs of India, Maldives, and Sri Lanka.
- The meetings were briefly suspended between 2014 and 2020 due to tensions between India and Maldives.
- In 2020, the framework was revived, rebranded, and renamed from the "NSA-level Trilateral Meeting" to the "Colombo Security Conclave."
- A secretariat for the group was established in Colombo in 2021.
- The CSC aims to address security concerns in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) with a focus on maritime security, marine pollution response, and search and rescue (SAR) operations.
- Members: India, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Mauritius(2022) and Bangladesh(2024)
- Observer state: Seychelles
- The inclusion of Bangladesh as a full member highlights the growing importance of regional security collaboration within the CSC framework.
- The member states also agreed that the next NSA level meeting will be held in India later this year, further emphasising the commitment to regional security and cooperation.
Key Areas of Cooperation
Maritime Safety and Security:
- Access to India's Long-Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) Data Centre.
- Use of the Merchant Ship Information System (MSIS) for exchanging unclassified information on white shipping.
- Enhanced Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) through training and cooperation in SAR operations.
- Strengthening of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) surveillance and communication channels to address illegal maritime activities.
- Exercises like 'DOSTI' and tsunami warning coordination.
Countering Terrorism and Radicalisation:
- Intelligence sharing against terrorism, radicalisation, extremism, illegal drugs, weapons, and human trafficking.
- Combating Trafficking and Transnational Organised Crime:
- Collaboration on issues such as contraband smuggling, illegal unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing, and irregular human migration (IHM).
- Cyber Security and Protection of Critical Infrastructure:
- Workshops and training programs to develop regional cybersecurity capabilities, including deep/dark web handling, digital forensics, and defensive operations.
- Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR):
- Coordinated efforts to provide humanitarian aid and manage disaster relief operations in the region.
Significance of CSC:
- Addressing Regional Security Challenges: By focusing on maritime security, the CSC helps maintain stability in the IOR, which is vital for international trade and shipping.
- Non-Traditional Security Threats: The CSC addresses various non-traditional security threats, including piracy, contraband smuggling, IUU fishing, IHM, marine pollution, and climate change impacts.
- Operational and Policy-Level Cooperation: The CSC fosters cooperation at both the operational and policy-making levels, involving various government agencies and military coordination.
- Enhanced Regional Collaboration: The CSC's small grouping allows for easier agreement on security issues and provides a platform for island and littoral nations to tackle their maritime challenges effectively.
- The CSC's initiatives, such as virtual workshops, tabletop exercises, and conferences, contribute significantly to building regional capacity and enhancing maritime security.
- For example, the CSC's tabletop exercises, like the one organized by the Indian Coast Guard in Kolkata in March 2023, are vital for maintaining coordination between the member states' militaries during joint operations.
The Colombo Security Conclave plays a pivotal role in addressing collective maritime security challenges in the Indian Ocean Region, promoting regional stability through enhanced cooperation and collaboration.
