Source: TP
Subject: Mapping
Context: India hosted the 7th Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) NSA-level meeting in New Delhi, reaffirming commitment to regional maritime security amid a rapidly evolving Indo-Pacific environment.
- Seychelles also announced its decision to join CSC as a full member, marking an important expansion of the grouping.
About India Hosts Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) NSA Meet:
- What it is?
- A regional security grouping of Indian Ocean nations focused on cooperative responses to common maritime and transnational security challenges.
- History:
- Originated in 2011 as the India–Sri Lanka–Maldives Trilateral Maritime Dialogue.
- Expanded to include Mauritius (2022), Bangladesh (2024) and Seychelles became a full member in 2025.
- Founding documents & CSC Secretariat were formalised in Colombo, August 2024.
- Members: India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Seychelles and Mauritius.
- Key Features of the 7th NSA Meet:
- Hosted by India (New Delhi).
- Attended by NSAs of India, Maldives, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh. Seychelles was an observer and Malaysia as guest.
- Focus on 5 security pillars:
- Maritime Safety & Security
- Counter-Terrorism & Radicalisation
- Transnational Organised Crime
- Cybersecurity & Critical Infrastructure Protection
- HADR (Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief)
About Seychelles:
- What it is?
- A sovereign island nation and archipelagic state in the western Indian Ocean; Africa’s smallest and least populated country.
- Located in: Western Indian Ocean, ~1500 km east of mainland East Africa.
- Capital: Victoria (on Mahé Island).
- Geographical Features:
- Comprises 115 granite and coral islands.
- No indigenous population; settled by French (18th century) and later controlled by British until 1976.
- Volcanic & coral islands, rich marine biodiversity, extensive EEZ critical for India’s SAGAR vision.
