Doval Urges Stronger Regional Security Network
National Security Adviser Ajit Doval has called for a stronger regional security architecture to address evolving threats, as he opened a high-level meeting of the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) in New Delhi. He described the current global environment as “rapidly changing and challenging” and stressed that regional partnerships must be bolstered to meet shared security concerns.
Focus On Indian Ocean Region And Beyond
Doval emphasised the significance of the Indian Ocean and neighbouring regions for collective security. He urged member states of the conclave to deepen cooperation on maritime security, counter-terrorism, cyber threats and humanitarian assistance. According to the statement, the NSA meeting gathers counterparts from CSC member states under India’s chairmanship.
Need For Concrete Outcomes
While the rhetoric on cooperation was strong, Doval underlined that simply meeting was not enough — the regional network must deliver tangible results. He called for regular intelligence-sharing, joint exercises, and capacity-building measures among member countries. India, as current chair of the conclave, is expected to spearhead initiatives in the coming year.
Strategic Implications
The move signals India’s intent to expand its regional role beyond bilateral ties and into multilateral frameworks. By leading the CSC, India is positioning itself as a driver of regional security cooperation in the Indian Ocean region. For other member states, the emphasis on operationalising the network presents a step-up from discussion to implementation.
What Happens Next
The participating states are expected to agree on a roadmap toward deeper collaboration, including a calendar of joint activities and shared platforms for threat analysis. Experts expect the next steps to cover real-time coordination among national security agencies and possibly institutionalising the conclave’s mechanisms.
