Recently, a Deputy National Security Adviser-level meeting hosted by Sri Lanka led to a pivotal agreement between India, Sri Lanka, and Maldives. The three nations consented to concentrate on “four pillars” of security cooperation – marine security, counter-terrorism, human trafficking, and cyber security. The meeting, part of the Colombo Security Conclave, further saw participation from Bangladesh, Seychelles, and Mauritius in observer roles.
The Background of the Conclave
Post the NSA (National Security Adviser) Trilateral meeting on Maritime Security in Colombo in November 2020, this grouping was rebranded as the ‘Colombo Security Conclave’. Established in 2011, this trilateral framework finds its secretariat in Sri Lanka’s capital city, Colombo. The main objective behind its establishment was to encourage maritime and security cooperation amongst the three Indian Ocean countries in response to the developing geostrategic dynamic shared by the nations.
Current Geostrategic Dynamic
In the past year, concerns over security have risen significantly owing to China being awarded development projects near Sri Lanka’s northern province, alarmingly close to India’s southern border. There is also the growing rapport between the Maldives and members of the ‘Quad’—the India-United States-Japan-Australia group—which has been gaining traction, particularly in defense cooperation.
Key Takeaways from the Latest Meeting
The primary goal of the meeting was to establish security mechanisms for the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), including the Bay of Bengal, given China’s increasing presence in the area. The discussion included various significant topics like weapons and human trafficking, battling terrorism and violent extremism, protection of the maritime environment, capacity building, transnational crimes, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), and more.
Another area of discussion was joint naval exercises to further strengthen maritime safety and security in the IOR, considering recent incidents of pollution accidents. Members deliberated on combating marine pollution resulting from such mishaps.
Furthermore, the observer countries—Bangladesh, Mauritius and Seychelles—have been invited as full members for the next NSA level meeting to be hosted by the Maldives later this year.
Significance of the Meeting
The meeting signifies a growing convergence among IOR countries, indicating a deepening sphere of engagement under a regional framework. It also underlines India’s intention to play an influential role in maintaining security in the neighborhood.
Potential Challenges and Concerns
Effective cooperation is contingent on maintaining good bilateral relations and understanding the aspirations of smaller neighbours. Smaller neighbours often prefer cooperating in non-traditional security areas rather than engaging in extensive military cooperation with India at the subregional level.
The Way Forward
A subregional approach to building security cooperation has become significant in India’s neighbourhood policy recently. The revival of the NSA-level trilateral dialogue on maritime security cooperation emphasizes this policy approach. However, defining clear boundaries for subregions will continue to pose challenges. Cooperation will depend not just on the proximity factor but also on the nature of the issues at hand. Clarity on these aspects will aid in better framing objectives and preventing duplication of activities.
This article is based on information from source: TH
Last Modified: February 13, 2024