1. What happened recently?
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India hosted the 7th National Security Advisor (NSA)-level meeting of the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) on November 20, 2025.
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Members now include six nations: India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Mauritius, Bangladesh, and Seychelles.
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Malaysia attended the summit as a Guest Nation.
2. What is the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC)?
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Origin: Started in 2011 as a trilateral group (India–Sri Lanka–Maldives).
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Revival: Revived in 2020 to strengthen cooperation in five key areas:
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Maritime security
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Counter-terrorism and radicalisation
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Combating Trafficking & organised crime
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Cybersecurity
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Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief (HADR)
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Expanding Membership:
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Mauritius became a full member in 2022.
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Bangladesh joined in 2024.
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Seychelles joined as the sixth full member at the 2025 summit.
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3. Why is the CSC important now?
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The Indian Ocean region is increasingly vital for global trade, economic development, and security.
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The region's stability directly impacts the livelihoods and development of all member states.
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The rise in non-traditional maritime threats (piracy, trafficking, climate change effects) necessitates a collective regional security response.
4. Key points from the 2025 summit
a) Expansion and Deepening Cooperation 'Seychelles’ full membership confirms the Conclave's growing influence and stronger regional buy-in. The member states committed to implementing the Founding Documents (signed in 2024) to streamline cooperation.
b) India’s Strategic Engagement - India is pushing for deeper cooperation with its maritime neighbours, driven in part by the need to balance the rising Chinese influence in the Indian Ocean.
c) Institutionalisation There is a clear push to transform the CSC from ad-hoc NSA-level meetings into a stronger, permanent institutional framework, including establishing a Secretariat.
5. Challenges for CSC
a) The China Factor - India views China’s growing presence as a major strategic security concern. * Other CSC countries often view China primarily as a crucial development partner and source of investment. * India must navigate this dynamic carefully to avoid alienating members.
b) Need for Structural Permanence - While steps toward institutionalisation are underway (Secretary-General, Founding Documents), the CSC must establish clear, long-term operational mechanisms to ensure consistent action.
c) Domestic Politics - Political uncertainties and regime changes in member nations (like the recent political transition in Bangladesh) can affect the consistency of engagement and commitment to CSC initiatives.
6. Conclusion
The CSC is rapidly maturing into a critical platform for regional maritime security and cooperation in the Indian Ocean.
The 2025 summit signaled significant progress in expansion and institutionalization. However, the long-term success of the CSC depends on its ability to manage the strategic complexities of Chinese influence, secure stable funding, and overcome internal political inconsistencies.