The Colombo Security Conclave is emerging as an increasingly important platform for regional cooperation among Indian Ocean nations to address shared security challenges. Originally started as a trilateral maritime security dialogue between India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, the Conclave has since expanded to include Mauritius and Bangladesh, with Seychelles recently becoming a full member, reflecting its growing relevance in the region’s security architecture.

The article highlights how the Conclave aims to strengthen collaboration across multiple dimensions of security—most notably maritime safety, counter-terrorism, combating trafficking and organised crime, cybersecurity and protection of critical infrastructure, as well as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. It explains that this cooperation is critical because the Indian Ocean Region faces a “fractured” security environment, marked by rising geopolitical competition, transnational threats, and evolving strategic interests of both regional and external powers.

By bringing together National Security Advisors and senior officials, the conclave seeks to build synergies—including information sharing, joint exercises and capacity building—to enhance regional stability, safeguard maritime routes and promote shared responses to common challenges. The article argues that strengthening this framework is key to ensuring peace and security across one of the world’s most strategically vital maritime domains.