Date : 26/12/2023

Relevance: GS Paper 2 - International Relations

Keywords: CSC, NSA, Maritime Security, HADR

Context-

In early December, India's National Security Adviser (NSA), Ajit Doval, participated in the sixth NSA meeting of the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC), a forum aimed at promoting safety and stability in the Indian Ocean region. This meeting, attended by member-states India, Sri Lanka, and Mauritius, as well as observer-states Bangladesh and Seychelles, assessed the progress made in the past year and outlined a roadmap for 2024. Notably, the absence of the Maldives, a member-state, highlighted the impact of domestic politics on regional collaboration.

Changing Dynamics of the Indian Ocean:

The CSC, initiated in 2011 as a trilateral maritime security grouping with India, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka, faced a hiatus after 2014 due to tensions between India and the Maldives. However, India's proactive efforts led to the revival of the CSC in 2020, with a vision to expand its membership to include Mauritius, Seychelles, and Bangladesh. This resurgence reflects India's strategic vision for the Indian Ocean, recognizing its pivotal role in an increasingly multipolar world. The Indian Ocean has become a focal point for global powers seeking influence, a trend set to intensify with the growing importance of the Indo-Pacific.

For India, a traditional power in the region, the CSC presents an opportunity to strengthen its leadership and security architecture. Historically, India has been involved in enhancing security in the Indian Ocean, addressing the capacity gaps of island nations, and responding promptly to regional crises. The CSC allows India to institutionalize its role, shape the regional security framework, and tackle emerging threats effectively.

Revival Linked to the China Factor:

The resurgence of the CSC is closely tied to China's expanding presence in the Indian Ocean. Beijing's substantial investments through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) aim to secure vital sea lines of communication, control trade routes, and limit India's influence. China has bolstered its naval capabilities, established strategic defense relationships with Indian Ocean states, and acquired key infrastructure, such as the Hambantota port in Sri Lanka. These developments underscore China's ambitions to reshape the security architecture of the Indian Ocean.

Recognizing the challenges posed by China, the CSC has prioritized five pillars of cooperation: maritime security and safety, countering terrorism and radicalization, addressing trafficking and transnational crime, cybersecurity, and protecting critical infrastructure, along with humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR). This strategic approach allows India to navigate its concerns about China without necessitating an overtly anti-China stance.

Despite reservations about certain Chinese activities, India acknowledges that many regional countries do not perceive China as a direct threat. Given their economic dependence on China, overtly opposing it may not be a feasible policy for these nations. Consequently, the CSC's focus on various sectors of cooperation allows India to understand and respond to threats collaboratively, positioning itself as a preferred partner for Indian Ocean states.

Strategic Accommodation and Flexibility:

The flexibility demonstrated by the CSC in accommodating diverse security challenges contributes to the overall security of the Indian Ocean. Since 2021, the organization has conducted investigations into terrorism, terror financing, narcotics trafficking, cybercrime, marine pollution, maritime law, and coastal security. The year 2022 witnessed conferences on oceanography, hydrography, and coastal security, showcasing the CSC's commitment to addressing a spectrum of challenges. Joint working groups have been established or are in the finalization stage, covering terrorism, cybersecurity, humanitarian aid and disaster relief (HADR), trafficking, and transnational organized crimes.

Beyond regular NSA and Deputy NSA meetings, member-states collaborate on capacity-building initiatives in areas such as counter-terrorism, police, law enforcement, and cybersecurity. This multi-faceted approach allows the CSC to be responsive to evolving threats and ensures the collective strength of its member-states in maintaining regional security.

Influence of Domestic Politics:

However, despite its promising trajectory, the CSC remains vulnerable to domestic political changes within its member-states. The recent absence of the Maldives from the NSA meeting underscores this vulnerability. The decision could be attributed to the Maldives' inclination towards closer ties with China or a response to domestic nationalist sentiments advocating a distancing from India on defense cooperation. This pattern of leveraging nationalist sentiments and aligning with China is not unique to the Maldives; all CSC member-states are democracies, prone to using these strategic cards for both domestic and external purposes.

As the Indo-Pacific region gains prominence, democratically elected governments in these member-states may continue leveraging nationalist and pro-China sentiments for political gains. For India, which has seen a significant increase in its regional ambitions, responsibilities, and perceived threats over the past decade, the CSC remains a crucial instrument in consolidating its regional leadership.

Conclusion

The Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) has emerged as a critical forum for addressing security challenges in the Indian Ocean. India's proactive role in reviving and expanding the CSC reflects its strategic vision for the region, acknowledging the changing dynamics shaped by global powers, particularly China. The CSC's strategic pillars and collaborative initiatives signify a comprehensive approach to addressing maritime security, counter-terrorism, cyber threats, and humanitarian crises.

However, the CSC's vulnerability to domestic political changes within member-states, as exemplified by the Maldives' absence, underscores the delicate balance that regional security initiatives must maintain. As the Indo-Pacific region continues to evolve as a geopolitical hotspot, the CSC remains an essential instrument for India to assert its leadership, foster regional collaboration, and effectively respond to emerging threats in the Indian Ocean. The dynamics of the CSC will likely continue to be shaped by the intricate interplay of regional politics, security considerations, and the influence of external actors in the years to come.

Source- The Hindu