It was in 2005 that defence related engagements between India and Sri Lanka began to take shape when the two countries carried out their first naval exercise ‘SLINEX’ in the Indian Ocean about 30 km off the coast of Colombo. Last year, the military personnel of the two neighbouring nations undertook the 10th edition of joint military exercise ‘Mitra Shakti’ at Sri Lanka’s Maduru Oya-based Army Training School.
However, despite such defence initiatives, which included regular visits of service chiefs from both sides and annual defence dialogue between defence secretaries of the two countries, India and Sri Lanka lacked formal defence pact. A framework for deeper and meaningful engagement in the military domain was given a proper institutional shape for the first time, during the just concluded visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Sri Lanka.
Importance of India-Sri Lanka Defence Pact
“The signing of the defence MoU between the two countries for the first time…will make existing defence cooperation initiatives more structured,” India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri told the press during a special briefing in Colombo on April 5, signalling that it was born out of their shared commitment to regional security and stability.
From a broader perspective, experts argue, the MoU will lay the foundation for a more comprehensive and coordinated partnership between the two countries in the years ahead. Its glimpse can be seen in the pact which envisages more joint exercises, capacity building in various areas, exchanges in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) related operations, increasing port calls by naval ships of the two countries. The India-Sri Lanka MoU in defence also calls for exploring opportunities in defence industry cooperation between the two countries.
The Indo-Bangla Defence MoU will lay the foundation for a more comprehensive and coordinated partnership between the two countries in the years ahead. The pact which envisages more joint exercises, capacity building in various areas, exchanges in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) related operations, and increasing port calls by naval ships of the two countries
Counterweight to China’s influence
This defence pact has taken place at a time when China is increasing its footprint in Sri Lanka, especially through infrastructure projects. When Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake undertook a four-day visit to China in the middle of January this year, China sealed several agreements with the island nation, including a $3.7 billion deal for setting up an oil refinery in Hambantota by Sinopec.
Already, under its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) scheme, China has invested hugely in Sri Lanka’s infrastructure projects like Lotus Tower, Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, Hambantota International Port, Hambantota Conference Hall, and the Port City Colombo. India views such developments with concern, as it could potentially hurt the balance of power in the Indian Ocean. Therefore, the defence pact is seen as a countermeasure to ensure that Sri Lanka does not become overly reliant on China, particularly for military and security assistance.
Security in the Indian Ocean
Sri Lanka’s strategic location in the Indian Ocean provides the island nation immense geopolitical importance. It is situated in the middle of the Indian Ocean, near key sea lanes connecting the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. Besides, it is located near vital maritime chokepoints, making it a crucial location for international trade and energy transit.
Sri Lanka’s strategic location in the Indian Ocean provides the island nation immense geopolitical importance. India, as a major maritime power in the Indian Ocean, has a vested interest in seeing that no external force, especially China, gains undue influence over Sri Lanka’s maritime security
India, as a major maritime power in the Indian Ocean, has a vested interest in seeing that no external force, especially China, gains undue influence over Sri Lanka’s maritime security. Through the defence pact, India’s objective lies in enhancing its own naval presence and security cooperation in the region.
China’s Aggressive Military Push in Indian Ocean
Across the South Asian region, Sri Lanka is the second country after Bangladesh, with which India has sealed defence pact in a formal way. With Nepal and Bhutan, India’s defence partnership is robust and regular high-level exchanges and joint military initiatives have further deepened cooperation among these countries.
In the backdrop of China’s aggressive military push in the Indo-Pacific region, Indian efforts to strengthen military partnership with neighbours is seen as a well thought out strategy. Particularly in the Indian Ocean, China has established a military base in East Africa’s Djibouti in 2017, while it has developed dual-use facilities in Pakistan’s Gwadar.
In 2014, two Chinese naval submarines made a port call to Colombo, while Chinese spy ships disguised as ocean research vessels have docked at ports in Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Myanmar quite often since the late 2010s. Especially in the waters of Sri Lanka, the docking by Chinese spy ships saw a significant jump after Colombo handed over Hambantota Port on a 99-year lease for US $1.12 billion to a Chinese company in 2017.
As per several media reports, Chinese research ships such as Yuan Wang 5 and Shi Yan 6 have docked at Hambantota Port and Colombo Port in 2022 and 2023 respectively in Sri Lanka. Reuters describes Yuan Wang 5 as one of China’s latest generation space-tracking ship, used to monitor satellite, rocket and intercontinental ballistic missile launches. In addition to Sri Lanka, the Maldives has also served as a docking point for the Chinese spy ships.
Xiang Yang Hong 3, a 4,500-ton high-tech Chinese spy ship disguised as a research vessel made a port call at Male in February 2024, while Myanmar has been frequented by Chinese naval ships, unaccountable times for joint exercises.
China’s Weaponisation of BRI
Such military-led activities of China in the Indian Ocean have triggered concern in India. What is troubling India more is China’s weaponisation of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to advance its interests in the region.
Military-led activities of China in the Indian Ocean have triggered concern in India. What is troubling India more is China’s weaponisation of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to advance its interests in the region
Through the contentious initiative, experts say, China first burdens a country with unsustainable loans – offered to build infrastructure and improving connectivity. When that country fails to repay the loan, Beijing then starts exerting pressure on it to provide political and economic concessions, including military access or control over those infrastructure. This is what is being witnessed in Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Myanmar.
Bangladesh is another example of China’s twists and turns. Under its BRI initiative, Bangladesh received $4.45 billion for 35 projects from 2013 to 2023. By the end of June 2024, China’s loans to Dhaka exceeded $6 billion. However, Bangladesh’s total external debt stood at more than $103 billion last year in June.
With Bangladesh deep in economic trouble as the current account balance, which is a measure of a country’s financial transactions with the rest of the world, has slipped back into deficit and balance of payments remains fragile, how Dhaka will sustain external loans, especially from China is a big question.
Bangladesh, during its Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus’s four-day visit to Beijing in the last week of March, secured fresh $2.1 billion in loans from China for various infrastructure projects, including the Teesta River project, modernisation of Mongla Port and a Special Economic Zone in Chittagong.
However, the situation has taken a more concerning turn with reports that Bangladesh has invited China to construct an airfield in Lalmonirhat district, which is situated near India’s strategically important Chicken Neck corridor.
Although India is worried about China’s growing presence in its neighbourhood. Thus, the formalisation of a defence pact between India and Sri Lanka represents a significant step in enhancing regional security
The Chicken Neck – a narrow strip of land connecting India’s northeastern states to the rest of the country – has long been a sensitive geopolitical area. The proximity of Lalmonirhat to key Indian districts like Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar heightens the potential threat posed by a Chinese presence in the region.
India is rightly worried about China’s growing presence in its neighbourhood. Thus, the formalisation of a defence pact between India and Sri Lanka represents a significant step in enhancing regional security. It signals India’s commitment to challenge China’s bid to disrupt the security situation in the region. It also underscores India’s commitment to prevent any single external power from gaining disproportionate influence in its vicinity.
–The writer is a senior journalist with wide experience in covering international affairs. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
