National Security Adviser Ajit Doval on Thursday said India is committed to continue working closely with all CSC countries to enhance our collective capacities in dealing with evolving and emerging security challenges.
He was speaking at the 7th Meeting of the National Security Advisors (NSAs) of the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) in New Delhi.
Calling for shaping an open and rules-based maritime environment, NSA Doval said, “We need to shape a favourable environment to nurture an open, inclusive maritime domain and conformity on a rule-based order.”
He also emphasised the need for joint stewardship of maritime resources. “We also need to work closely for the preservation and use of our common maritime heritage,” NSA Doval said.
Doval stressed the central role of the Indian Ocean for regional states. “The ocean is our biggest heritage. It is the engine that propels our economies,” he said.
He added that countries bound by maritime geography share a responsibility: “As countries joined by shared maritime geographies, it is our responsibility to ensure the safety, security and stability of the region.
Doval hosted his counterparts from Member States including the Maldives, Mauritius, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Seychelles participated as an Observer State, and Malaysia as a Guest.
The CSC was formed to promote closer cooperation between Member States on vital matters of security and to strengthen partnerships for enhancing regional security in the Indian Ocean Region.
The signing ceremony for the Founding Documents of the CSC was held in Sri Lanka in August 2024.
At the 7th NSA level meeting, the first Secretary General, appointed by India, presented a comprehensive review to the CSC Member States on the decisions taken at the 6th NSA level meeting in Mauritius on 7-8 December 2023 and activities undertaken since then under the five pillars of cooperation, namely Maritime Safety and Security; Countering Terrorism and Radicalisation; Combating Trafficking and Transnational Organised Crime; Cyber Security and Protection of Critical Infrastructure and Technology; and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief.
The CSC Member States also discussed ways of enhancing cooperation under identified pillars, including through training and capacity building. They reiterated their commitment to the vision and objectives of CSC. The CSC Members welcomed the decision of the Republic of Seychelles to accede to the CSC as a full member.
Delegations of Member States were respectively led by Ibrahim Latheef, DC (Retd.), Lt. Col. (Retd.), National Security Adviser, Republic of Maldives; Mr. Rahul Rasgotra, National Security Adviser, Republic of Mauritius; and Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd.), Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka; and Dr. Khalil-ur-Rehman, National Security Adviser, People’s Republic of Bangladesh.
The delegation from Seychelles was led by Major General Michael Rosette, Chief of Defence Forces, Republic of Seychelles Defence Forces. Malaysia participated as a Guest for the first time and was represented by Mr. Badrul Shah Mohd Idris, Deputy Director General of the Malaysian National Security Council.