The challenge posed by the massive earthquake and devastating tsunami of 26 December 2004 was a vivid illustration of the advantages of conceptualising security within the inclusive framework of human security. The natural disaster caused catastrophic loss of life in many countries around the perimeter of the Indian Ocean, including thousands of Westerners vacationing in the pleasure resorts. Mother Nature did not discriminate between Muslim and Christian, Tamil and Sinhalese, poor and rich, native and foreigner. She claimed them all equally to her bosom in the sea to bring forcefully home the realisation that we are indeed one human family. We inhabit the same planet Earth, and artificially constructed enmity and rivalry based on the competitive and exclusionary concept of national security can be irrelevant to securing citizens against the real threats to their safety. The very symbol of ‘us against them’ national security – military forces – was used cooperatively in the international effort to provide disaster relief and assistance to the victims.

At the same time, the general expectation was that the lead responsibility for organising international rescue and relief operations belonged properly to the United Nations. Thus even when nominated to the select core group of four aid coordinators, India demurred, saying that the UN should lead.