A Template for Security Cooperation in the Indian Ocean

Dec. 3, 2025

Context

The convening of the 7th National Security Advisor–level summit of the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) on November 20, 2025, marked a pivotal moment in the security landscape of the Indian Ocean.
Hosted by India and chaired by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, the summit gathered senior representatives from Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Mauritius, Bangladesh, Seychelles, and Malaysia.
The meeting underscored the CSC’s growing relevance as a regional security forum committed to cooperative approaches within a strategically vital maritime space.

Origins and Reinvigoration of the CSC

Formed in 2011 as a trilateral grouping between India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives, the CSC initially struggled to sustain momentum due to political changes and limited convergence on security priorities.
Its revival in 2020 represented a turning point, expanding its scope across maritime security, counterterrorism, trafficking and organised crime, and cybersecurity.
Subsequent membership growth, Mauritius in 2022, Bangladesh in 2024, and Seychelles in 2025, reflected increasing regional confidence in the Conclave’s purpose.
This expansion has gradually transformed the CSC into one of the most active security-focused mechanisms in the Indian Ocean.

A Region in Flux: The Geopolitical Backdrop

The 2025 summit occurred amid significant shifts in the Indo-Pacific’s maritime and security frameworks, marked by fragmented institutions and intensifying great-power competition.
In this context, the CSC stands out as a regionally anchored platform capable of addressing shared vulnerabilities.
For India, the Conclave serves as an essential tool to stabilise its maritime neighbourhood and enhance coordination at a time when the geopolitical balance is being reshaped by increased Chinese activity in the Indian Ocean.
The CSC’s focus on non-traditional security challenges, including illegal fishing, drug trafficking, and maritime terrorism, positions it as a uniquely adaptive body suited to the region’s emerging needs.

The Development–Security Nexus

For many littoral states, security concerns are inseparable from developmental priorities.
Dependence on the ocean for trade, fisheries, and economic growth means that maritime threats directly affect national resilience.
Issues such as trafficking networks, marine environmental degradation, and climate-driven disruptions carry heavy developmental consequences.
Strengthening maritime surveillance, enhancing domain awareness, and improving emergency response capabilities allow CSC members to pursue security and development goals simultaneously.
This dual focus strengthens the rationale for deeper cooperation and helps smaller states translate security gains into economic opportunities.

Key Outcomes and Strategic Significance of the 2025 Summit

First, the accession of Seychelles as a full member signalled deepening regional commitment to the CSC’s mandate.
Second, India leveraged the summit to consolidate ties with maritime neighbours amid heightened geostrategic uncertainty.
Third, the meeting demonstrated that security cooperation is emerging as a central pillar of regional integration, particularly for addressing transnational maritime challenges.
Finally, Malaysia’s participation as a guest opened possibilities for future expansion, suggesting that the CSC may evolve into a broader Indian Ocean security platform.

Enduring Challenges: Divergent Perceptions and Institutional Weakness

Despite these gains, the CSC faces key challenges. The most prominent relates to divergent perceptions of China.
India views China’s expanding presence as a strategic concern, whereas many CSC members rely on Beijing as a vital economic partner and therefore do not frame China as a security threat.
Managing this divergence will be essential for maintaining a cohesive agenda.
A second challenge stems from the Conclave’s limited institutional structure.
Operating primarily at the National Security Adviser level, the CSC lacks dedicated permanent bodies capable of ensuring continuity, policy alignment, and systematic implementation.
Institutionalising working groups, standard procedures, and long-term cooperation mechanisms will be critical for sustained effectiveness.
A third concern arises from domestic uncertainties in member-states, particularly Bangladesh. Political volatility could affect policy consistency and weaken the group’s resilience.

Conclusion

The CSC has emerged as a promising and increasingly influential forum for enhancing security cooperation in the Indian Ocean.
Its expanding membership, focus on non-traditional threats, and growing strategic relevance highlight its potential to address shared regional challenges.
Its future success, however, depends on achieving greater cohesion, institutional resilience, and balanced threat perceptions.
With sustained commitment, the CSC can evolve into a foundational pillar of security cooperation in an Indo-Pacific region undergoing rapid transformation.