A template for security cooperation in the Indian Ocean

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2-Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

Introduction

The Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) has become an important platform for cooperation in the Indian Ocean. It brings India and its island neighbours together to manage shared maritime risks and development-linked vulnerabilities. The 2025 summit in India reflects how rising geopolitical shifts, new defence partnerships, and the growing role of China are reshaping security cooperation and pushing CSC members to work more closely.

Colombo Security Conclave

Origin: The Colombo Security Conclave began in 2011 as a trilateral platform between India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. It slowed down later as political changes in Sri Lanka and the Maldives weakened alignment on shared security priorities. This reduced the group’s ability to maintain momentum.

Revival: The platform was revived in 2020 under a broader framework. It adopted cooperation in maritime security, counter-terrorism, trafficking and organised crime, and cybersecurity. This wider focus helped the member-countries rebuild trust and recommit to joint work in the Indian Ocean.

Expansion: The Conclave has expanded steadily. Mauritius became a member in 2022, Bangladesh joined in 2024, and Seychelles entered as a full member at the 2025 summit. Malaysia attended as a guest. The widening membership signals growing interest in the platform and its mandate.

Aim: The Conclave aims to strengthen cooperation in a region where the maritime security framework is still fragmented. It seeks to reduce gaps in coordination and provide a platform for countries to work together on shared security concerns in the Indian Ocean.

Maritime security holds crucial importance for CSC members

1. Dependence on oceans for development: The economies of CSC members are deeply tied to the oceans. Their development priorities rely on secure seas, making maritime security important for long-term economic stability and growth.
2. Link to lives, livelihoods and opportunities: Maritime risks directly affect coastal communities. Addressing such risks protects livelihoods but also opens new economic possibilities in an era where global trade depends heavily on sea routes.
3. Focus on non-traditional security threats: The Conclave gives special attention to issues such as trafficking, organised crime and cyber vulnerabilities linked to the maritime domain. These threats are cross-border in nature and require joint action.
4. Need for coherent cooperation: Regional security mechanisms remain scattered. Stronger cooperation among CSC members is necessary to develop coordinated and effective responses to common maritime challenges.

The 2025 summit marks a significant turning point for the CSC

1. Importance of timing: The summit took place when security frameworks in the Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean are shifting. This increased the urgency for stronger collective action to address emerging risks.
2. India’s deeper engagement with neighbours: For India, the Conclave offers a path to reinforce ties with its maritime neighbours at a time of rising geopolitical volatility and growing Chinese presence in the region.
3. Expansion and regional commitment: Seychelles joining as a member reflects regional confidence in the platform. Malaysia’s participation as a guest indicates potential for wider outreach in the future.
4. Strengthening security cooperation: The summit highlighted that security cooperation is becoming central to regional relations. Security issues now shape how countries collaborate in the Indian Ocean.

Challenges Shaping the CSC’s Future Direction and Resilience

1. Different views on China: India sees the scale of Chinese activity in the Indian Ocean as a major security concern. Other members rely on China for development and do not share the same threat perception. This gap makes coordination more difficult.
2. Need for stronger institutional structure: The Conclave now works at the National Security Adviser level. Members need a more stable institutional framework to ensure consistent policies and predictable cooperation.
3. Domestic uncertainties in member states: Internal political changes, especially in Bangladesh, may affect how actively these countries engage with each other. Such uncertainties can slow down collective efforts.
4. Strengthening resilience and cohesion: Even with challenges, the Conclave has created a new space for cooperation in a region where unity on security issues has been weak. Its future depends on building stronger institutional resilience and deeper cohesion among its members.

India’s Wider Maritime Initiatives as a Template for Indian Ocean Security Cooperation

1. SAGAR Doctrine: This foundational vision aims to deepen economic and security cooperation with maritime neighbors. Its pillars include:

• Security Cooperation: Strengthening maritime security through bilateral and multilateral relations to combat threats like piracy, terrorism, and illegal fishing.
• Capacity Building: Assisting partner countries (such as Mauritius, Maldives, Seychelles) with maritime infrastructure development, training, and providing equipment like patrol vessels and radar systems.
• Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR): Serving as a “first responder” during natural disasters and humanitarian crises (e.g., “Mission Sagar” operations during the COVID-19 pandemic and cyclone relief efforts).
• Sustainable Development: Promoting the responsible and sustainable use of marine resources, also known as the “Blue Economy”.
• Connectivity and Infrastructure: Investing in port development (e.g., Chabahar Port) to enhance regional trade and connectivity.

2. MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security And Growth Across Regions): An extension of SAGAR that broadens the scope to include wider economic and geopolitical issues and enhances collaboration with the “Global South”.
3. Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR): Established in Gurugram. This center has information-sharing arrangements with 22 countries and other partners to monitor and respond to maritime activities and threats.
4. Joint Exercises and Patrols: The Indian Navy conducts numerous bilateral and multilateral exercises and coordinated patrols with IOR littoral states to enhance interoperability:

• Bilateral Exercises: Such as Malabar (with the US, Japan, Australia), Varuna (France), SIMBEX(Singapore), and SLINEX (Sri Lanka).
• Coordinated Patrols (CORPATs): Regularly conducted with nations like Bangladesh, Indonesia, Myanmar, and Thailand.
• Multilateral Exercises: Including MILAN (hosted by India) and the recent maiden Africa India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME).

5. Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS): Initiated by India in 2008, it provides a forum for navies of the IOR littoral states to cooperate on security matters.
6. Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA): India is a founding member and assumes the chairmanship from November 2025, working on economic cooperation, maritime safety, and environmental security.
7. Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad): A strategic grouping with the US, Japan, and Australia that addresses shared challenges in the Indo-Pacific, including maritime security and disaster relief.

Conclusion

Taken together, CSC and India’s wider maritime initiatives show how the Indian Ocean is slowly moving towards a more cooperative security order. The next test will be closing institutional gaps, managing differences over China, and keeping smaller states engaged so that security, development and resilience can advance together.

Question for practice:

Evaluate the role of the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) and India’s wider maritime initiatives as a template for security cooperation in the Indian Ocean region.

Source: The Hindu