NSA Ajit Doval Participates in 6th Colombo Security Conclave Meeting

Port Louis, Mauritius – National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval joined the 6th NSA-level Meeting of the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC), held in Port Louis, Mauritius. The CSC, initiated in 2020, expanded its scope and membership to include India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Mauritius, focusing on enhancing maritime safety, security, and cooperation.

Expanding Regional Collaboration

Established as an outcome of the Trilateral Meeting on Maritime Cooperation, the CSC includes five pillars of cooperation: maritime safety and security, countering terrorism, combating trafficking and organized crime, cyber security, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

During the meeting, Member Countries, along with senior delegates from Bangladesh and Seychelles as Observer States, reviewed progress made since the 5th NSA-level Meeting and outlined a roadmap of activities for 2024.

Addressing Emerging Challenges

The CSC emphasizes its role in ensuring the safety, security, and stability of the Indian Ocean Region, tackling both traditional and emerging hybrid challenges.

Over the past year, Member and Observer States engaged in various activities covering marine pollution, maritime law, coastal security, oceanography, hydrography, counter-financing terrorism, narcotics trafficking, cyber-crime, and cyber security.

Achievements and Future Initiatives

Under the maritime safety and security pillar, the first Oceanographers and Hydrographers Conference held in Goa and Hyderabad, India, produced a list of deliverables. The CSC Ocean Information Services portal was launched in Mauritius during the 6th NSA-level Meeting.

The CSC Coastal Security Conference, addressing threats to coastal regions, held its first session in Chennai in December 2022, with plans for the next conference in late 2024.

Training and Capacity Building

The CSC conducts regular exchanges, both virtual and physical, involving police officers, counter-terrorism experts, drug law enforcement officers, and cyber security experts. Joint Working Groups on specific areas such as Countering Terrorism and Radicalization and Cyber Security have been established to deepen cooperation.

Future Meetings

In addition to NSA-level meetings, the CSC holds Deputy NSA level meetings to oversee the implementation of decisions. The next NSA-level meeting is scheduled to be held in India in 2024.

Bilateral Interaction

During his visit to Mauritius, NSA Ajit Doval also met with Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Prime Minister of the Republic of Mauritius, strengthening diplomatic ties between the two nations.