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

Published 7 June 2026 · india

Colombo Security Dialogue To Go International, 1st Secy-General Of Permanent Secretariat Will Be Indian: Sources To News18 Reported By, Last Updated: June 07, 2026, 13:43

Colombo Security Dialogue To Go International, 1st Secy-General Of Permanent Secretariat Will Be Indian: Sources To News18 Reported By, 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 Rapid Read The grouping, which operates at the Security Adviser level, currently includes India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Mauritius, Bangladesh and Seychelles. (PTI File) 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 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 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 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.