Colombo Security Dialogue To Go International, 1st Secy-General Of Permanent Secretariat Will Be Indian: Sources To News18

Last Updated:June 07, 2026, 13:43 IST

The secretariat will serve as the central coordinating body for security cooperation and collaboration among member states, say sources

Amid growing security challenges in the Indian Ocean Region, the Colombo Security Dialogue, which has so far functioned as a regional security forum, is set to evolve into a formal international organisation, said sources.

Sources indicate that plans are underway to establish a permanent secretariat in Colombo, Sri Lanka, which is expected to be announced soon. The secretariat will serve as the central coordinating body for security cooperation and collaboration among member states. Sources further suggest that the first Secretary-General of the permanent secretariat is likely to be an Indian national.

The initiative involving India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Mauritius and other member countries is being viewed as a major step toward institutionalising cooperation on maritime security, counter-terrorism, cyber threats, transnational organised crime, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) across the Indian Ocean Region.

CHINA’S GROWING PRESENCE AND INDIA’S BALANCING ACT

Against the backdrop of China’s expanding influence and presence in the Indian Ocean Region, India has actively promoted the Colombo Security Conclave as a focused minilateral platform to strengthen security cooperation with island and littoral states.

However, most member countries maintain strong relations with Beijing, and India has been careful not to alienate them. As a result, India largely kept the issue of China off the agenda during last year’s 7th National Security Advisers (NSA) meeting of the Colombo Security Conclave and avoided making it a central topic of discussion.

MEMBERSHIP AND IMPORTANCE

The grouping, which operates at the National Security Adviser level, currently includes India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Mauritius, Bangladesh and Seychelles.

Today, the security-focused platform is regarded as one of the most significant regional security mechanisms in the Indian Ocean Region, with a strong emphasis on maritime security and regional cooperation.

WHAT IS THE COLOMBO SECURITY CONCLAVE/DIALOGUE?

The Colombo Security Conclave is a regional security grouping of Indian Ocean countries aimed at addressing shared security challenges through collective action.

It was launched in 2011 as a trilateral maritime security cooperation mechanism involving India, Sri Lanka and Maldives. The initiative became inactive after 2014 due to strains in India-Maldives relations. It was revived in 2020 and renamed the Colombo Security Conclave.

The grouping subsequently expanded, with Mauritius joining in 2022, Bangladesh in 2024, and Seychelles in 2025.

National Security Advisers and Deputy National Security Advisers of member countries meet regularly to advance security cooperation and coordinate policy initiatives.

FIVE KEY AREAS OF COOPERATION

The Conclave focuses on five major pillars:

• Maritime Safety and Security
• Counter-Terrorism and Counter-Radicalisation
• Combating Trafficking and Transnational Organised Crime
• Cyber Security and Protection of Critical Infrastructure
• Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR)

STRATEGIC SIGNIFICANCE FOR INDIA

The CSC is widely seen as a practical manifestation of India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and MAHASAGAR vision.

It strengthens India’s role as the region’s “First Responder" and “Net Security Provider" in the Indian Ocean.

The mechanism also helps smaller island nations meet their security requirements while reducing their dependence on external powers, particularly China.

While organisations such as the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) serve as broad platforms for dialogue, the CSC is a more security-focused and operationally driven framework designed for practical cooperation.

As the Colombo Security Dialogue moves toward becoming a formal international organisation with a permanent secretariat, it is poised to emerge as a key pillar of the Indian Ocean’s regional security architecture, with India playing a central role in shaping its future trajectory.

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