New Delhi: India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval underlined the importance of the regional group for maritime security, the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC), even as one of the founding members, Maldives, appeared to have skipped the meeting.
The sixth meeting of the Colombo Security Conclave, founded by India, Maldives and Sri Lanka in 2011, was held at the Indian Ocean nation of Mauritius on Thursday.
According to a tweet of the Indian high commission of Mauritius, the participants included the National Security Advisors of India, Mauritius and Sri Lanka, as well as delegates from Seychelles and Bangladesh.
Maldives, which recently witnessed a change in government after the presidential election, was missing on the list posted by the high commission. It remains unclear whether the Maldives had representation at a lower level or the country did not participate in the meeting at all.
The Indian High Commission highlighted that NSA Doval underscored the pivotal role of the CSC in guaranteeing regional security and stability. He also emphasised the importance of sustained engagement across various pillars of cooperation “Members also agreed on a Roadmap of Activities for 2024,” it said.
The five pillars of cooperation within the CSC encompass maritime safety and security, counterterrorism and counter-radicalisation initiatives, the combat against trafficking and transnational organised crime, cybersecurity and protection of critical infrastructure, as well as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
When the three countries met after six years in 2020, they agreed to expand the membership of the trilateral grouping. Mauritius joined the revived Colombo Security Conclave in March 2022, while Bangladesh and Seychelles have been taken part in the meetings as observers.
Maldives vice-president Hussain Mohamed Latheef is currently on a visit to Kunming to attend the ‘China-Indian Ocean Region Forum on Development Cooperation’.