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Regional security: Colombo Security Conclave expands

12 Mar 2022

 
  • Indian NSA Doval calls for close cooperation, roadmap
  • Mauritius gains membership
By Asiri Fernando The 5th National Security Advisor level meeting between India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives came to an end last Thursday (10) in Malé, with a call for close cooperation on security challenges while expanding the group’s membership. An Indian-led tripartied regional security cooperation platform, the Colombo Security Conclave, which was launched in 2014, last week added a new member, Mauritius – a clear indication that Indian Ocean maritime security is a key focus of the Conclave. Bangladesh and Seychelles participated in the Conclave as observers. Last year, a Secretariat for trilateral National Security Advisors (NSAs) was launched at the Sri Lanka Navy Headquarters in March, to act as a platform to improve maritime security cooperation between the Maldives, India, and Sri Lanka. According to reports, Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval had called for a ‘concrete roadmap’ for regional security cooperation. The meeting also saw Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief being added to the previously-agreed four pillars of cooperation: Maritime Safety and Security, Countering Terrorism and Radicalisation, Combating Trafficking and Transnational Organised Crime, Cyber Security, and Protection of Critical Infrastructure and Technology. “The Member states agreed upon a roadmap for further cooperation and collaboration on these pillars of cooperation. The roadmap will facilitate robust mechanisms for coordinated responses, capacity building, and strengthening information flow between member states,” the Office of the Maldivian President said. Republic of Maldives Minister of Defence Mariya Ahmed Didi, Republic of India Prime Minister’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval KC, Sri Lanka Ministry of Defence Secretary General Kamal Gunaratne (Retd.), Republic of Mauritius National Security Advisor Kumaresan Ilango, Bangladesh Prime Minister’s Defence and Security Advisor Tarique Ahmed Siddique, and Seychelles Defence Forces Chief of Staff Simon Archange Dine attended the two-day meeting. The Colombo Security Conclave meeting coincided with the annual joint exercise between the Sri Lankan and Indian Navies (SLINEX), which was held last week off Visakhapatnam.


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