Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval on Thursday urged the countries of the Indian Ocean region to work together to ensure the "safety, security and stability" of the maritime domain, noting that the global security environment is challenging.
"The ocean is our biggest heritage. It is the engine that propels our economies," he said, adding that countries bound by maritime geography share a responsibility.
As countries joined by shared maritime geographies, Doval said it is their responsibility to ensure the safety, security and stability of the region.
He was addressing the 7th meeting of the National Security Advisers of the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) in New Delhi.
Doval hosted his counterparts from Member States including Maldives, Mauritius, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Seychelles participated as an Observer State, and Malaysia as a Guest.
NSA Doval called for shaping an open and rules-based maritime environment. "We need to shape a favourable environment to nurture an open, inclusive maritime domain and conformity on a rule-based order."
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, said the Indian Ministry of External Affairs.
The 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 were also discussed.
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.
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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 Dr Khalil-ur-Rehman, National Security Adviser, People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Ibrahim Latheef, DC (Retd.), Lt. Col. (Retd.), National Security Adviser, Republic of Maldives; 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.
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 Badrul Shah Mohd Idris, Deputy Director General of the Malaysian National Security Council.