Maritime neighbours and India-led members of the South Asian Quad have jointly flagged a five-point blueprint on the way forward at the end of the two-day Colombo Security Conclave in Maldives on Thursday.

The five-point agenda includes maritime safety and security; countering terrorism and radicalisation; combating trafficking and transnational organised crime; cyber security, protection of critical infrastructure and technology; and, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

"The roadmap will facilitate robust mechanisms for coordinated responses capacity building and strengthening information flow between member states," the statement mentioned.

As reported by IndiaNarrative.com, the grouping – dubbed by many as a 'Quad minilateral' led by India – has served as an effective ground for cooperation among the Indian Ocean countries in South Asia, especially with China's growing influence in the region and beyond. 

Min. @MariyaDidi met w/ India's NSA HE Ajit Doval. The Min. noted
the robust 🇮🇳🇲🇻 Def+Sec Partnership & expressed hope for continued collaboration & dynamism in enforcing #ColomboSecurityConclave's Charter & 4 Pillars of Cooperation. @HCIMaldives @CDFofMNDF @MNDF_Official pic.twitter.com/V3Bk63xEWv

— Ministry of Defence (@MoDmv) March 10, 2022

Mauritius has joined the founding members of Conclave – India, Maldives and Sri Lanka – while Bangladesh and Seychelles are the Observers.

India's National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Maldives Defence Minister Mariya Ahmed Didi, Sri Lanka's Defence Secretary General Kamal Gunaratne (Retd.), and Mauritius NSA Kumaresan Ilango agreed upon a roadmap for further cooperation and collaboration on the five pillars of cooperation.

The delegation from Bangladesh was led by Tarique Ahmed Siddique, Defence and Security Adviser to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh and Seychelles was represented by Simon Archange Dine, Chief of Staff of Seychelles Defence Forces.

Also Read: Led by NSA Doval, South Asia Quad on maritime security takes shape in the Maldives