The President of Sri Lanka should strike a balance between India and China

Sri Lanka’s president must balance the relationship between regional powers

The “Pearl of the Indian Ocean” – Sri Lanka – could become a bone of contention between India and China after the September 21 presidential election that made the Marxist, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, president of Sri Lanka.

While reports Having suggested before the election that there could be a “geopolitical tug-of-war” in the near future, there is no denying that Sri Lanka will position itself strategically in terms of regional trade and regional security.

For both India and China, the Colombo and Hambantota Ports will be critical points Global shipping route And both countries will try to compete for control over major infrastructure projects.

Dissanayake announced shortly after taking office that he did not wish to be “Sandwiched“Between India and China, especially when both were “value partners”.

It has indicated that it aims to maintain an equal distance from the two regional powers like itself said that both countries co

Sri Lanka’s president must balance the relationship between regional powers

The “Pearl of the Indian Ocean” – Sri Lanka – could become a bone of contention between India and China after the September 21 presidential election that made the Marxist, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, president of Sri Lanka.

While reports Having suggested before the election that there could be a “geopolitical tug-of-war” in the near future, there is no denying that Sri Lanka will position itself strategically in terms of regional trade and regional security.

For both India and China, the Colombo and Hambantota Ports will be critical points Global shipping route And both countries will try to compete for control over major infrastructure projects.

Dissanayake announced shortly after taking office that he did not wish to be “Sandwiched“Between India and China, especially when both were “value partners”.

It has indicated that it aims to maintain an equal distance from the two regional powers like itself said Both countries can provide financial assistance as they seek to build closer ties with the West, Middle East and Africa.

However, there is no doubt that both India and China have the potential to influence Sri Lanka’s bilateral relations with the two regional powers. The island nation has maintained a close friendship with India for decades based on historical, cultural, security and economic ties.

Of course there was a setback in this relationship in the last decade, especially during the presidency of Mahinda Rajapaksa. Leaning towards China. At that time, Sri Lanka and China were trying to deepen their relationship Strategic cooperative partnership.

The Rajapakse regime’s post-civil war development initiatives had a pro-China approach. Consequently, China, as Sri Lanka’s largest bilateral lender, secured influence in the island nation through projects such as port cities and infrastructure development.

However, the decline of the Rajapakse dynasty ensured the erosion of Chinese influence in Sri Lanka’s badly battered economy in the last two years.

Financial assistance to India

After the 2022 financial crisis, India played an important role in supporting Sri Lanka when it quickly intervened to expand. US4 billion dollars A lifeline that bypassed the International Monetary Fund’s 48-month bailout $3 billion.

During the pre-election campaign of the National People’s Power-led coalition of political parties Dissanayake – It was vocal in its opposition to the sale of national assets to foreign companies, highlighting the threat to Sri Lanka’s national interests. CPN has strongly protested Adani Group’s A.CAcquisition of the country’s port, renewable energy and airport sectors.

Five days before Sri Lanka’s elections on September 21, Dissanayake said that “cancelIf he won the election, the wind power project was earlier awarded to an Indian group.

The far-left party Janata Vimukti Perumana (JVP), led by the President of Sri Lanka, has been labeled as pro-Chinese in its foreign policy approach and is often described as such an organization. Protests continue Policies relating to neighboring India.

Suffice it to say that the JVP was opposed to Indian military intervention in the island nation’s civil war in the late 1980s.

Compared to Dissanayake’s opponents in the presidential race, the NPP’s foreign policy has not been clearly articulated, creating uncertainty about how the new leadership will approach its neighbors and maintain old diplomatic ties with India and China.

Long before the presidential election, New Delhi tried to warm to Dissanayake Invitation in February NPP leader on visit to Indian capital Dissanayake visited New Delhi Met senior officialsAmong them are India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

After the electoral victory of Dissanayake V Indian High Commissioner in Colombo Dr He was among the first foreign diplomats to meet and congratulate the president-elect.

If either Ranil Wickramasinghe or Sajith Premadasa wins the election, it may serve Indian interests better as both are known for their pro-New Delhi stance.

This would have allowed India to play a larger role in Sri Lanka’s economy and regional security, especially against the backdrop of the generous financial support given to Colombo after the economic crisis.

Meeting with the President of Sri Lanka Dissanayake

For this, New Delhi will find Continue to engage with President Dissanayake of Sri Lanka mainly on issues of interest to Tamils ​​of Indian origin, greater connectivity, continuation of its energy-related projects, interests of its fishermen and preventing China from militarily using Sri Lankan ports.

After a pro-China president took power in the Maldives.India out“Campaign, sought by the Government of India Promotion Sri Lanka as a tourist destination.

has been estimate The JVP’s ideological position will bring it closer to China, but the newly elected Sri Lankan president has not said of severing ties with New Delhi, a sign he prefers to continue. Bilateral engagement with its northern neighbor.

Since Sri Lanka’s nuclear power plants, space research centers and naval bases are located in South India and close to Sri Lanka, it is in India’s interest to maintain friendly relations with Sri Lanka.

Relations with India are also expected to improve under Sri Lanka’s Dissanayake management. said recently He will not allow any other power to use his country’s sea, airspace and land to threaten India.

As a strategically important coastal state, Sri Lanka’s president will have to carefully navigate its relationship with both India and China.

Sri Lankan analysts Dissanayake believes that the balance between New Delhi and Beijing will remain, although this “tightrope walk“Considering both Indian and Chinese interests in the Indian Ocean region.

Chinese debt burdens partly caused the economic collapse of 2022, which surprisingly allowed India to push for economic and material aid.

However, given the geopolitical outcome in the Maldives and Bangladesh, Indian influence in Sri Lanka depends on how well it manages diplomatic relations with the Dissanayake regime.

Meenuka Mathew is a Senior Research Fellow at the Jindal School of Government and Public Policy, OP Jindal Global University, Sonepat, Haryana.

Originally published under Creative Commons by 360 information™.