Will India Host the 7th Colombo Security Conclave NSA Meeting Tomorrow?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- 7th Meeting of NSAs in New Delhi on Thursday.
- Participants include nations from the Indian Ocean region.
- Focus on cooperation in Maritime Security, Counter-Terrorism, and more.
- Review of activities and discussions on Roadmap for 2026.
- India's role in hosting significant security forums.
New Delhi, Nov 19 (NationPress) The 7th Meeting of the National Security Advisors (NSAs) from the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) is set to take place in New Delhi on Thursday, as confirmed by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday.
NSA Ajit Doval will welcome his counterparts from member nations, including the Maldives, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. Seychelles will participate as an Observer State, while Malaysia has been invited as a Guest.
According to a statement released by the MEA, “The CSC was established to foster enhanced cooperation among member nations on critical security issues and to fortify partnerships aimed at improving regional security in the Indian Ocean.”
Aligned with this vision, the upcoming meeting will allow participants to assess activities across various cooperation pillars, including Maritime Safety and Security; Countering Terrorism and Radicalization; Combating Transnational Organized Crime; Cyber Security and Protection of Critical Infrastructure; and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief. Participants will also discuss the Roadmap and Action Plan for 2026.
The 6th Meeting of the CSC NSAs took place in December 2023 in Mauritius, and member states reconvened during the Signing Ceremony for the CSC Founding Documents in Sri Lanka in August 2024.
Additionally, the Deputy National Security Advisers (DNSAs) from CSC countries have been meeting regularly, with the last session held virtually in July 2024.
The MEA noted that in previous years, India has hosted various significant events, such as the First CSC Oceanographers and Hydrographers Conference, where member and observer states exchanged knowledge on oceanography and hydrography, and discussed collaborative approaches to tackle regional ocean-related challenges.
Furthermore, India has organized the inaugural Coastal Security Conference, highlighting the vital roles and responsibilities of Coast Guards from member and observer states in safeguarding coastlines and beyond, along with the third Maritime Law Workshop.
India has also conducted several training programs focusing on investigations of terrorism, counter-trafficking efforts, organized crime, and drug law enforcement.