COLOMBO SECURITY CONCLAVE

•  The CSC, established in 2011, comprises India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives as its founding members.
• Mauritius joined as the fourth member at the fifth national security advisers’ meeting.
• Bangladesh and Seychelles have been invited as observers with potential future membership.

Envisaged Goals and Pillars:

The fifth meeting outlined the CSC’s goals in five key areas of cooperation:

• Maritime Safety and Security
• Countering Terrorism and Radicalization
• Combating Trafficking and Transnational Organized Crime
• Cyber Security, Protection of Critical Infrastructure and Technology
• Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief

Significance:

• CSC reinforces regional cooperation and shared security objectives in the Indian Ocean.
• It aims to curb China’s influence and reduce its footprint in member countries.
• It aligns with India’s SAGAR vision and its role in the QUAD grouping.
• The CSC contributes to emerging sub-regionalism in the global context.

Associated Challenge:

• While the six countries share interests in the Indian Ocean, moulding CSC into an institution to counter China could face challenges, similar to SAARC’s struggles.

For more info: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1907141