A planned military exercise between the navies of Pakistan and Sri Lanka, to be conducted off Sri Lanka’s strategic Trincomalee coast, was recently canceled after India objected to the exercise with the Sri Lankan government, sources said.
Trincomalee on Sri Lanka’s northeast coast is strategically located in the Indian Ocean region, especially for India’s maritime security. The naval drill was meant to be a routine interaction between the two nations’ forces, with warships of both countries making frequent visits to each other’s harbors for mutual exercises. India, however, conveyed its reservations to Colombo about the drill, which was canceled a few weeks ahead of the scheduled event.
Military experts emphasized Trincomalee’s importance, explaining that the port could potentially dominate the Bay of Bengal and much of the northeastern Indian Ocean. India’s concerns were also tied to the Pakistani Navy’s close cooperation with China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, heightening New Delhi’s apprehension about any Pakistani military presence in the region.
India-Sri Lanka Growing Strategic Ties
The cancellation comes after earlier tensions brought about by Chinese warships’ docking in Sri Lanka, which have sent alarm bells ringing in New Delhi. In light of increasing Chinese influence, India has sought to enhance relations with Sri Lanka, such as developing Trincomalee’s energy infrastructure. In the recent visit to Colombo by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India, Sri Lanka, and the UAE agreed on a deal to make Trincomalee an “energy hub” to increase Sri Lanka’s energy security as well as the economic growth of the country.
Defence Pact and Strategic Cooperation
The visit also witnessed India and Sri Lanka formally agreeing on a defence cooperation treaty to strengthen defence relations. This follows almost four decades since there were strained ties following India’s intervention in the civil war of Sri Lanka.
