The global security landscape had entered a “challenging” phase, India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval told the 7th Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) on Thursday, urging member states to intensify cooperation against terrorism and strengthen maritime security.
He said the Indian Ocean region was facing fast-evolving geopolitical and security pressures, making the CSC more relevant than ever.
“The CSC has gained immense significance today in the midst of a rapidly changing and challenging global security environment,” he said.
Reinforcing India’s maritime outlook, Doval called the Indian Ocean “our greatest shared heritage” and urged states to act jointly to safeguard regional waters.
“The ocean is the engine that propels our economies,” he said, stressing the need for an open, inclusive, rules-based maritime order. He pressed for stronger collective stewardship of marine resources, citing the region’s interconnected geographies and shared vulnerabilities.
With piracy, illegal trafficking, and regional power competition resurging, maritime safety and coordinated naval responses remained central to the discussions.
Doval promised to work “closely with all CSC countries to enhance collective capacities in dealing with evolving and emerging security challenges.”
Bangladesh NSA Khalil-ur-Rehman said his country has been actively engaged in several CSC activities and intends to continue “based on the principles enshrined in the Charter, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity and non-interference.”
He noted that the Conclave can play a “critical role in strengthening collective security, regional stability and shared prosperity.”
The Bangladesh NSA added, “Bangladesh has been steadfastly playing its dual role in this regard. We are working alongside regional nations to enhance maritime safety and security, combat piracy and other organised maritime crimes and terrorism, as well as to ensure cybersecurity.”
Over the past year, India has hosted a series of CSC-linked events, including the first Oceanographers and Hydrographers Conference aimed at exchanging scientific expertise and maritime best practices.
Officials said the CSC will continue expanding its technical and operational engagements as the Indian Ocean becomes increasingly important to global supply chains and energy flows.
The CSC placed heightened emphasis on tackling terrorism and radicalisation, with several delegations underscoring the threat posed by cross-border networks and extremist financing.
The participating nations agreed to expand joint counterterrorism exercises, intelligence exchanges, and mechanisms to monitor transnational terror activities, a key priority since the CSC’s restructuring in 2020.
The meeting saw Seychelles join as a full member. Malaysia attended as a guest for the first time.
