Context:
India attended 6th National Security Adviser Level Meeting of Colombo Security Conclave held in Mauritius.
Key Developments:
- Agreed on a Roadmap of Activities for 2024 in the face of traditional, non-traditional and emerging hybrid challenges in Indian Ocean region (IOR).
- Announced launch of Ocean Information Services portal that aims to facilitate exchange of oceanographic information.
Non-traditional security issues are challenges that arise primarily out of non-military sources, such as climate change, infectious diseases, natural disasters, etc.
About Colombo Security Conclave (CSC):
- Formed in 2011.
- Trilateral maritime security grouping of India, Sri Lanka and Maldives.
- Mauritius joined as 4th member
- Observer countries – Bangladesh and Seychelles
- It has permanent secretariat based in Colombo, to coordinate activities and implement decisions.
- 5 pillars –
- Maritime safety and security
- Countering terrorism and radicalisation
- Combating trafficking and transnational organised crime
- Cyber security and protection of critical infrastructure
- Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
- Significance of CSC –
- In line with vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) and Neighbourhood First Policy.
- Provides cooperative environment and collaborative mechanism in maritime neighbourhood of IOR.
Major Regional Cooperation Mechanism in IOR:
- Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC).
- Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) seeks to increase maritime co-operation among navies of the littoral states of IOR.
- Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).
- Indian Ocean Commission (India is not a member but observer to it).
Source: Economic Times
Previous Year Question
Consider the following in respect of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS):
1. Inaugural IONS was held in India in 2015 under the chairmanship of the Indian Navy.
2. IONS is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime co-operation among navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2017 Prelims]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (b)
Explanation:
Indian Navy in 2008 chaired the inaugural IONS Seminar.
