Sri Lanka and Indo-Pacific maritime strategies

“Every nation, in every region of the world, has to take a decision: either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists.”- President George W. Bush, in his address to the joint session of Congress on 20th September, 2001.

- BY ADMIRAL RAVINDRA C WIJEGUNARATNE WV, RWP and Bar, RSP, VSV, USP, NI (M) (Pakistan), ndc, psn, Bsc(Hons) (War Studies) (Karachi) MPhil (Madras)

The former US Indo-Pacific Commander, Admiral Harry Harris, delivering his keynote speech at the Galle Dialogue 2016, attributed Sri Lanka's strategic importance to the US to three factors: "Location, location, and location."

These words, by Admiral Harris, amply highlight the geopolitical importance of Sri Lanka in the Indo-Pacific region and in the global context. Former Indian National Security Adviser (NSA) and Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon, in his book, Choices, described Sri Lanka as a "permanent aircraft carrier for India in the middle of the Indian Ocean." Though this claim could politically be contentious, it reflects a geopolitical reality of the region. It is no secret that other global powers, such as China and Russia, also view Sri Lanka through a similar geopolitical lens. On the other hand, this island nation is located amidst major sea routes; just a few miles south of the Dondra Head Lighthouse, over 120 ships pass daily, carrying goods upon which the health of global markets depends.

In this context, it is essential for Sri Lanka to adopt a pragmatic policy on strategic defence diplomacy engagements with regional and global superpowers, while ensuring its sovereignty and integrity are preserved, all the while respecting the national foreign policy stance of remaining nonaligned and neutral. Thus, defence diplomacy should be a considerable concern of Sri Lanka's foreign policy.

What is Defence Diplomacy?

It refers to the pursuit of foreign policy objectives through the peaceful deployment of defence resources and capabilities.

In the post-Cold War period, Western defence establishments, led by the UK, created a new international security arrangement focused on defence diplomacy. Although it originated many centuries before the world wars, defence diplomacy is now used successfully by both the global West and the developing South to further national strategic and security interests.