The evolving role of the Colombo Security Conclave

Context: Recently, India’s National Security Adviser (NSA), took part in the 6th NSA meeting of the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) which agreed upon a road map for the year 2024.

About:

Originally known as the Trilateral for Maritime Security Cooperation, this regional security grouping was established in 2011.

• The primary aim is to foster a safe, secure, and stable Indian Ocean, with India in a leadership role.
• Initially comprising India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives, Mauritius joined during the 5th meeting in 2022.
• Bangladesh and Seychelles, initially observers, have received invitations to become active participants.
• All CSC countries are members of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS).
• The group operates based on five pillars, including maritime safety and security, counterterrorism, combating trafficking and transnational organized crime, cybersecurity, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
• A permanent secretariat in Colombo, established in 2021, coordinates activities and implements decisions from National Security Advisor (NSA) level meetings.
• Meetings are held at the NSA and deputy NSA levels.
• Security-focused exercises, such as Exercise Dosti XV and Table Top Exercise (TTX), have been conducted.
• Since 2021, the group has addressed various issues, including terrorism, narcotics trafficking, cybercrime, marine pollution, maritime law, and coastal security.
• Conferences on oceanography, hydrography, and coastal security were conducted in 2022, with further iterations planned for 2024.
• Joint working groups focus on terrorism, cybersecurity, humanitarian aid and disaster relief, and transnational organized crime.
• The group collaborates on capacity-building in areas like counterterrorism, police, law enforcement, and cybersecurity.

Changing dynamics of Colombo Security Conclave (CSC)

• The Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) faced disruption in 2014 due to escalating tensions between India and the Maldives, resulting in a suspension of meetings until 2020.
• In 2020, India led efforts to revive the CSC, rebranding it to include Seychelles and Bangladesh as observer nations.
• The revival is attributed to the increasing significance of the Indian Ocean in a changing multipolar world, where extra-regional powers vie for influence.
• The resurgence is partly driven by heightened Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean, coupled with its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects.
• China's establishment of a base in Djibouti and control of Sri Lanka's Hambantota port underscore the strategic importance of the region.
• The revival of CSC provides India with an opportunity to institutionalize its leadership role, shape regional security architecture, and effectively address existing and emerging threats.
• India serves as the primary responder in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), intervening in situations like coups and providing humanitarian and economic assistance during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Challenges faced by CSC

• Susceptibility to shifts in domestic politics within member-states, as exemplified by the non-participation of the Maldives in the recent meeting.
• The influence of China poses an additional challenge, with member-states, all democracies, potentially leveraging nationalist sentiments and aligning with China for domestic and external advantages in the context of the growing significance of the Indo-Pacific region.
• Another challenge lies in the rise of sub-regionalism, indicated by the coming together of six countries in the Indian Ocean region under the CSC, showcasing a unified stance on maritime and security issues.

Way forward:

Maintain a shared strategic perspective that underscores the need to navigate the increasing influence of China in the area without obstruction. Prevent potential areas of disagreement with neighboring nations and promote cooperation within the region.