Context: This article is based on an Editorial “The evolving role of the Colombo Security Conclave” which was published in the Hindu. Recently, India’s National Security Adviser (NSA) took part in the sixth NSA meeting of the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC). 

6th Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) meeting in Mauritius

• The meeting also included member-states, Mauritius and Sri Lanka, and observer-states, Bangladesh and Seychelles. However, the only member-state Maldives was absent, which underscored the impact of domestic politics over regional collaboration.
• Agenda of the Meeting: 
  • Track Past: To review the developments and progress made by the CSC in the last year.
  • Agreed upon a Road Map: To promote a safe, secure and stable Indian Ocean for 2024. 

About the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC)

• Origin: It came in 2011, with Sri Lanka joining India and the Maldives for a trilateral maritime security grouping but came to a standstill after 2014 due to rising tensions between India and the Maldives. 
• Revival: In 2020, India pushed Colombo Security Conclave for the revival, institutionalization and expansion to Mauritius, the Seychelles, and Bangladesh. 
• Pillars: The CSC has focused on five pillars:
  • Maritime Security and Safety
  • Countering Terrorism and Radicalisation
  • Trafficking and Transnational Crime
  • Cyber-security and Protecting Critical Infrastructure
  • Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief. 
• India and the Indian Ocean Region: 
  • Since its independence, India has played an increasing role in promoting security in the Indian Ocean. 
  • The lack of capacity of island nations to secure the seas and counter transnational threats has continued to motivate India to assist them in defense and security-related capacity building, infrastructure development, and equipment provision. 
  • India has also played a vital role as the first responder in the region such as to avert coups or to offer humanitarian and economic assistance during COVID-19 and multi-faceted crises. 
• Significance: 
  • Investigation Organization: The Colombo Security Conclave has investigated terrorism and terror financing, narcotics trafficking, cybercrime and security, marine pollution, maritime law, and coastal security. 
  • Joint Working Groups: These have already been established, or are being finalized, on terrorism, cyber-security, humanitarian aid and disaster relief (HADR), trafficking and transnational organized crimes. 
  • Collaboration on Other Sectors: The countries are collaborating on capacity-building in sectors such as counter-terrorism, police, law enforcement, and cyber-security.

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Significance of the Colombo Security Conclave for India

• For Leadership: An opportunity to strengthen its leadership and security architecture. 
• To Counter Threats: An opportunity to institutionalize its role, shape the regional security architecture, and better address the existing and emerging threats.
• To Counter China Factor: Since the early 2000s, China has invested substantively in the Indian Ocean with its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects, helping it access the Indian Ocean. 
  • China’s outreach is to control the crucial sea lines of communication and trade and to limit India’s influence and presence. 
  • China is strengthening its naval capabilities and also maintains strong defense relationships with countries in the Indian Ocean region. 
  • It has established a base in Djibouti and controls Sri Lanka’s Hambantota port. 
  • It continues to use scientific ships to map the Indian Ocean bed. 
  • China also wants to counter the prevailing security architecture in the Indian Ocean by institutionalizing its presence through platforms such as the Indian Ocean Region Forum on Development Cooperation.

What are the challenges associated with the Colombo Security Conclave?

• The Influence of Politics: It is vulnerable to domestic political changes in its member-states. 
  • Example: The Maldives’s absence from the recent meeting. It may be due to preferring a close relationship with China or for the nationalist campaign that has pledged to distance the Maldives from India on defense cooperation. 
• Use of Nationalist and pro-China cards by Member-States: All the members of the Colombo Security Conclave are democracies, and they use these cards for their benefits as the Indo-Pacific region grows in prominence. 
  • Example: The ambitions, responsibilities and threats have increased for India and the Colombo Security Conclave will remain an important instrument to help it consolidate its regional leadership.

Conclusion

India needs to build up more trust and capabilities to counter the existing and arising challenges and should work towards extending its soft power in the Indian Ocean region by implementing all those measures that contribute to the overall development of all the countries in the region.

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