Sri Lanka recently adjusted its naval diplomacy, reportedly canceling or reconsidering a planned naval exercise with Pakistan after India raised concerns. This follows regional tensions over foreign military presence near India. Earlier, Sri Lanka allowed China’s vessel Yuan Wang 5 to dock, which drew criticism from India. In response, Colombo introduced SOPs for foreign naval visits to ensure transparency and regional security. Meanwhile, India and Sri Lanka continue to strengthen ties through joint naval drills like SLINEX 2024, which included gun firings and special forces operations. These moves reflect Sri Lanka’s delicate balancing act in South Asia’s evolving geopolitical landscape.
