Member countries of the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) have finalised the CSC Charter and signed a Memorandum of Understanding yesterday to establish a permanent secretariat for the group.
The signing ceremony was organised by the Government of Sri Lanka in Colombo City.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed on behalf of the member countries by the National Security Advisor of the Maldives, Ibrahim Latheef, the National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister of India, Ajit Doval KC, the High Commissioner of Mauritius to Sri Lanka, Haymandoyal Dillum, and the National Security Advisor to the President of Sri Lanka, Sagala Ratnayaka. Bangladesh did not sign the Memorandum of Understanding. Correspondents state that the country was unable to sign due to its current political situation.
The event to sign the founding document of the Colombo Security Conclave concluded after discussions among the heads of delegations regarding the future work of the Conclave and potential future initiatives.
The CSC began in 2020 as a trilateral group comprising India, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka to closely cooperate on maritime and security matters among the three Indian Ocean nations. The group was later expanded by admitting Mauritius and Bangladesh as members, and granting observer status to Seychelles.
The primary objective of the CSC is to find solutions to international threats and challenges faced by member countries and to enhance regional security and safety.
There are five main areas of cooperation among member countries under the CSC. These five areas are ensuring maritime security and safety, countering terrorism and radicalisation, combating trafficking and transnational organised crime, working to ensure cybersecurity and the protection of critical infrastructure, and providing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
