A New Beginning for US-Sri Lanka Relations

(Baonghean) - On May 2, US Secretary of State John Kerry visited the Indian Ocean island nation of Sri Lanka. This is the first visit by a US Secretary of State to Sri Lanka since 2005. After a long period of tension under former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the US is looking to restart relations with the new leader of the most strategically located country in the Indian Ocean, current President Maithripala Sirisena. This is considered a necessary and timely step, in the context that the Indian Ocean is gradually becoming a new hot spot for competition for influence among major powers, especially China, India and the US.

US Secretary of State John Kerry (left) and Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena. Source: Reuters

The US-Sri Lanka relationship has been troubled for years, and became strained when the US, under the auspices of the United Nations, launched a UN-sponsored investigation into the separatist war in Sri Lanka, despite Colombo's objections. However, since taking office in early January, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has pledged to mend ties with the West and promote bilateral cooperation with countries, including the US.

The US Secretary of State's visit to Sri Lanka, just four months after the country had a new leader, showed his determination to improve relations with the Indian Ocean island nation. In meetings with government officials and President Sirisena, Secretary Kerry emphasized that many great opportunities are opening up for the US-Sri Lanka bilateral relationship. Mr. Kerry also affirmed that the US intends to expand and strengthen its partnership with Sri Lanka, and that the US is always ready to support Sri Lanka. To realize this goal, the two countries will begin an annual partnership dialogue and officials from the US Treasury and Commerce departments will provide technical assistance to the Sri Lankan government.

In fact, in terms of purpose, the US government's special interest in Sri Lanka at this time is not difficult to understand. Sri Lanka has a geostrategic position in the Indian Ocean. This island nation is located about 40 miles from the coast of India, on the busy oil transport route from the Middle East to Asia. With an important position in the Indian Ocean corridor, along with the historical development of maritime and trade, Sri Lanka, although small, has become the target of great powers. Sri Lanka is likened to a "hanging pearl" in New Delhi's ear, an important point in the "backyard" where India is looking to consolidate its position and influence. Or for China, Sri Lanka is also a precious pearl in the string of pearls that Beijing is establishing, towards the "maritime silk road".

Overall, the Indian Ocean has an area of ​​75 million km2, the third largest after the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, and plays a leading role in security, maritime, energy and mineral reserves... The Indian Ocean has important sea routes connecting the Middle East, Africa and East Asia with Europe and America, and also has important oil and gas and petroleum product transportation routes. Therefore, witnessing powers such as China, India, and Russia accelerating to the Indian Ocean, can a power like the US sit still?! Especially in the context that the Obama administration wants to promote more strongly the strategy of pivoting to Asia. Although the focus is on the Pacific, certainly, the Indian Ocean - a new competitive hotspot - will also be Washington's top concern.

Meanwhile, for Sri Lanka, opening a new phase of relations with the US means that the island nation will attract more investment and gradually return to the international arena, as President Sirisena recently affirmed. In a meeting with his US counterpart, host country Foreign Minister Samaraweera also pledged that Sri Lanka will become a “full-fledged parliamentary democracy” and an “investor’s paradise”. In fact, the new government in Sri Lanka has also quickly realized the advantages of its country’s geostrategic location. In recent times, Sri Lanka has been “walking a tightrope” in the competition for influence between China and India; now, with the US’s presence, Sri Lanka will certainly be caught up in a new vortex.

The new administration’s job will probably be to balance national interests and foreign policy, to maintain sovereignty while not being dependent on any superpower. An example is the public’s firmness when the Sri Lankan President recently suddenly banned Chinese ships from docking at the country’s ports or ordered the suspension of a multi-billion dollar Chinese real estate project.

Thus, despite the warm relationship between his predecessor and China, President Maithripala Sirisena has made a new policy adjustment by becoming friendlier to India. And the gift that Sri Lanka received afterwards was not anger or coldness from China but a new aid package worth 1 billion USD from Beijing to Colombo. Therefore, surrounded by the great powers that want to take advantage of Sri Lanka's geostrategic position, the island nation is probably continuing to consider the pros and cons and adjust a suitable foreign policy after this visit of US Secretary of State John Kerry.

Phuong Hoa