Male [Maldives], March 10 (ANI): National Security Advisers at the NSA meeting of the Colombo Security Conclave in the Maldives on Wednesday agreed that as maritime nations they play the role of the first responders for security in the Indo-Pacific region.

The fifth National Security Adviser-level meeting of the Colombo Security Conclave was held here in which the NSAs discussed the significance of close cooperation between member and observer countries in maritime safety and security and countering terrorism and radicalisation, sources said.

As maritime nations as well as close maritime neighbours, NSAs agreed that they play the role of the first responders for the region.

India's NSA Ajit Doval, in his statement, called for strengthening cooperation amongst maritime neighbours to address shared security challenges and as first responders.

The Colombo Security Conclave comprises India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. At the meeting, Mauritius was included as the fourth member. Bangladesh and Seychelles participated as Observers.

The sources said India proposed a meeting of the Heads of respective Coast Guards this year.

They said NSAs also discussed countering narcotics trafficking and transnational organised crime and cyber security and emerging technologies.

This was the fifth meeting of the conclave. It was earlier called the Trilateral for Maritime Security Cooperation. At the fourth NSA-level meeting of the Trilateral Meeting held in Colombo on November 28, 2020, India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives agreed to expand the scope and membership of the group and rename it as the Colombo Security Conclave.

A permanent Secretariat was established in Colombo which coordinates all activities of the conclave and is also responsible for the implementation of the decisions take at the NSA level.

The next meeting of the Conclave is scheduled to be held in India at the Deputy NSA Level. The next NSA level Dialogue will also be held in India.

Sources said there is a possibility of an Oceanographers Conference and a road map is being finalised for activities of the Conclave. (ANI)