Trilateral Maritime Security Cooperation Initiative

India, Sri Lanka and Maldives launched the Trilateral Cooperation in Maritime Security in October 2011 at the first NSA-level Trilateral Meeting on Maritime Security Cooperation in Maldives. An Outcome Document after deliberations and discussions was signed in 2013 by the National Security Advisers (NSAs) of the three countries. The initiative has importance for India because of following factors:

1. Piracy in seas around the Indian Ocean, a menace to all maritime users.
2. Necessity of surveillance on illegal maritime activities.
3. Cross-utilisation of naval resources during cyclonic storms, tsunami.
4. Combating marine pollution.