Colombo Security Conclave

• Vaid's ICS, Lucknow
• 25, Apr 2022

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.
    • The NSA level trilateral talk happened 9 months ago.
    • NSA level trilateral talk was revived after a gap of 6 years (Possible reason behind such a long gap may be Chinese Influence).

“4 pillars” of cooperation:

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

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.