The 7th National Security Advisors’ Meeting of the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) has concluded in New Delhi, bringing together senior security officials from across the region to discuss shared challenges and enhance cooperation among member states.

The meeting was inaugurated on 20 November at Sushma Swaraj Bhavan by Ajit Doval KC, National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister of India.

Delegations from the Maldives, India, Sri Lanka and Mauritius attended the meeting, alongside former observer states Bangladesh and Seychelles, with Malaysia participating as a guest nation. The Maldivian delegation was led by National Security Advisor, Deputy Commissioner (Retired) Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Ibrahim Latheef, accompanied by Deputy National Security Advisor Major General (Retired) Hamid Shafeeq and the Maldivian High Commissioner to India, Aishath Azeema.

The CSC aims to strengthen regional security through coordinated efforts among member states. Five core pillars of cooperation have been jointly identified: maritime security and safety, counter-terrorism and radicalisation, combatting trafficking and transnational organised crime, cybersecurity and the protection of critical infrastructures, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

Ahead of the main session, India’s National Security Advisor held a separate meeting with the Maldivian delegation. Discussions focused on ways to further reinforce existing security cooperation between the Maldives and India, particularly in areas aligned with the CSC’s priority pillars.

The Colombo Security Conclave was established to provide a collaborative platform for regional nations to address evolving security threats, improve information-sharing, and develop joint responses to common challenges affecting stability in the Indian Ocean region.