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India Blocks Pakistan-Sri Lanka Naval Drill Near Strategic Trincomalee

Sri Lanka cancels joint naval exercise with Pakistan after Indian objections, as New Delhi strengthens defense and energy ties with Colombo.

Overview

  • A planned Pakistan-Sri Lanka naval drill near Trincomalee was cancelled after India raised security concerns with Sri Lankan authorities.
  • The cancellation comes weeks after Prime Minister Modi's visit to Sri Lanka, where a defense cooperation agreement was signed—the first since the 1980s.
  • India, Sri Lanka, and the UAE also finalized a tripartite agreement to develop Trincomalee as a major energy hub, including a multi-product pipeline.
  • Sri Lanka’s decision aligns with its 2024 moratorium on foreign research vessels, addressing concerns over surveillance by Chinese and Pakistani ships.
  • Trincomalee’s strategic location in the Indian Ocean underscores its importance in regional power dynamics between India, China, and Pakistan.