Why in news?
At the seventh National Security Adviser‑level meeting of the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) held in New Delhi, Seychelles was admitted as the grouping’s sixth member. The Indian Ocean island nation joined India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Mauritius and Bangladesh in committing to a collaborative approach to regional maritime security.
Background
Seychelles is an archipelagic country in the western Indian Ocean. Located about 1,600 kilometres east of mainland Africa and northeast of Madagascar, it comprises around 115 islands, of which only a few are inhabited. The main islands, including Mahé (home to the capital Victoria), Praslin and La Digue, are mountainous granitic islands that rise sharply from the sea. The outer islands are flat coral atolls perched atop the Mascarene Plateau. The highest point, Morne Seychellois, reaches 905 metres. Seychelles enjoys a tropical oceanic climate with little seasonal variation.
The Colombo Security Conclave
- Origins: The CSC evolved from trilateral maritime security cooperation between India, Sri Lanka and Maldives. It expanded to include Mauritius and Bangladesh, and now Seychelles.
- Objectives: The group seeks to strengthen regional security by addressing transnational threats such as piracy, terrorism, drug trafficking, cybercrime and illegal fishing.
- Structure: National Security Advisers and deputy NSAs of member states meet regularly, while a permanent secretariat in Colombo, Sri Lanka, coordinates activities.
Significance of Seychelles’ membership
- Strategic location: Situated astride important sea lanes linking Africa and Asia, Seychelles provides the conclave with an outpost to monitor and respond to maritime threats in the western Indian Ocean.
- Enhanced cooperation: Adding Seychelles deepens the CSC’s reach and allows for joint exercises, intelligence sharing and capacity‑building across a wider arc of the Indian Ocean.
- Broader regional alignment: The move aligns with India’s vision of a secure and prosperous “Indian Ocean Region,” reinforcing cooperative security architectures without creating formal military alliances.
Conclusion
Seychelles’ inclusion in the Colombo Security Conclave reflects growing consensus among Indian Ocean states to work together on shared security challenges. By pooling resources and expertise, the expanded grouping aims to safeguard maritime trade, protect marine resources and maintain stability in one of the world’s busiest sea lanes.
Sources: The Economic Times · World Atlas
