NEW DELHI: India firmly asserted its commitment to regional stability as national security adviser Ajit Doval chaired the 7th NSA-level meeting of the Colombo Security Conclave in New Delhi. The summit brought together top security leadership from the core member states – Maldives, Mauritius, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh – to significantly enhance cooperative mechanisms across the vital Indian Ocean Region (IOR).Doval told the members that IOR’s security was a shared responsibility. “The ocean is the engine that propels economies, it is our biggest heritage… And as countries joined by shared maritime geographies, it is our responsibility to ensure the safety, security and stability of Indian Ocean Region,” he said at the conclave held on Thursday. The NSA asserted that the strength and success of the elite congregation lay in the common vision, consultations and convergence of objectives.The primary agenda, he said, centred on deepening collaboration under the five established pillars: 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. Member states specifically committed to expanded joint training and capacity building initiatives.The conclave marked a major institutional milestone with the collective welcome extended to Seychelles for its decision to accede as a full member, substantially expanding the group’s geographic coverage. Adding to the broad regional presence, Malaysia participated for the first time as a guest nation.
