Paper: GS – II, Subject: International Relation, Topic: Regional and Global Grouping, Issue: Colombo Security Conclave (CSC).
Context:
The Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) as a crucial forum for promoting security cooperation in the Indian Ocean region.
Key Highlights:
Evolution and Significance of the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC):
- Origins: Initiated in 2011 as a trilateral grouping between India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives.
- Re-establishment: Reconvened in 2020 under the aegis of the CSC, focusing on maritime security, counter-terrorism, trafficking, organized crime, and cybersecurity.
- Expansion: Mauritius joined in 2022, and Bangladesh in 2024, signaling a growing commitment to regional cooperation.
- India’s Perspective: The 2025 summit is crucial for India, given the shifting frameworks of cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and the Indian Ocean.
- Addressing Development Needs: Recognizes that maritime security challenges are intertwined with the developmental priorities of member countries.
- Economic Importance: Highlights the dependency of member countries on the oceans for economic progress and the opportunities presented by sea-borne globalization.
Challenges Facing the CSC:
- Divergent Views on China:
- India views China’s presence in the Indian Ocean as a key maritime security priority.
- Other member countries may not view China’s presence as a major security challenge due to their dependence on Beijing as a developmental partner.
- Requires careful balancing by India to address the question of growing Chinese presence.
- Need for Institutional Strengthening:
- Currently operates at a National Security Advisor-level structure.
- Needs to institutionalize cooperation to ensure consistent alignment of policies and actionable pathways.
- Domestic Uncertainties:
- Domestic uncertainties in countries like Bangladesh may impact their engagement with India and other member countries.
- Risk of uncertainty over the group’s resilience.
However, to ensure its continued effectiveness, it must address the challenges it faces, particularly concerning divergent views on China, the need for institutional strengthening, and domestic uncertainties in member countries. Efforts to imagine the way ahead must remain anchored in the need to foster institutional resilience and cohesion among its member-countries.
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