Colombo Security Conclave

• Vaid's ICS, Lucknow
• 10, Aug 2021

Why in News?

Recently, the Deputy National Security Advisor (Deputy-NSA) level talk also known as ‘Colombo Security Conclave’ was concluded between India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

• The meeting was hosted by Sri Lanka.

About Colombo Security Conclave:

• Aim: To “further promote” maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region.
• Initiated by: President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2011.

At that time, he was Secretary to the Ministry of Defence.

Significance:

• The current geostrategic dynamic that India shares with Sri Lanka and the Maldives is not very favourable to India.
• The initiative is grounded in military and security collaboration with 2 Indian Neighbours i.e. Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
• Earlier this year, India aired security concerns over Chinabeing awarded development projects on an island off Sri Lanka’s northern province.
• The project was very close to India’s southern border.

Key Outcomes from the Meeting:

Intelligence sharing:

• This discussion furthered the idea of intelligence sharing discussed at NSA-level trilateral talks on maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region.
  • NSA level trilateral talk was revived after a gap of 6 years (Possible reason behind such a long gap may be Chinese Influence).
  • The NSA level trilateral talk happened 9 months ago.

“4 pillars” of cooperation:

• All the three nations have agreed to work on “4 pillars” of
  • Cybersecurity.
  • Counter-terrorism and Radicalisation, and
  • Human trafficking and Organised Crime,
  • Security cooperation including areas of Marine security

Joint Exercises and Training in areas of cooperation mentioned above will also take place.

India-Maldives Relations

Engagement with QUAD (India, Japan, Australia and US)

• Maldivian engagement with the ‘Quad’, has been growing over the last year, especially in the area of defence cooperation.
• The Ibrahim Mohamed Solih government signed a ‘Framework for a Defence and Security Relationship’ agreement with the United States last year
• It was welcomed by India.
• In 2020, the Maldives also received a Japanese grant for the Maldivian Coast Guard and a Maritime Rescue and Coordination Center.

Facts  For Prelims:

Pensilungpa Glacier

• Pensilungpa Glacier is retreating due to an increase in the temperature and a decrease in precipitation during winters.
• Location: Zanskar, Ladakh.
• The Zanskar Range is a mountain range in the union territory of Ladakh that separates Zanskar from Ladakh.
• Geologically, the Zanskar Range is part of the Tethys Himalaya.
• The Marbal Pass and many other passes which connect Ladakh with Kashmir are in this area.
• 13000 feet high Zojila Pass is in the extreme northwest of the Zanskar range.

PM-DAKSH’ Portal

• The Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment launched an online ‘PM-DAKSH’ portal and a mobile application to make skill development schemes accessible to the target groups of Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and sanitation workers.
• Salient features: 
  • It will make available all information related to skill development at one place for Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes and sanitation workers.
  • It has the facility to register with the training institute and for the programme of one’s interest.