A top United States Navy Commander will visit Sri Lanka on Thursday (10) to discuss rising security challenges in the Indian Ocean region and strengthen bilateral defence cooperation between the two nations, the U.S. Embassy in Colombo said.
The visit of Admiral Steve Koehler, a 4-star U.S. Navy Admiral and Commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet comes amid the docking of Chinese military training ship Po Lang in Colombo port after the new government under President Anura Kumara Dissanayake allowed it citing there was no security threats to Sri Lanka.
“During the visit, Admiral Koehler will reaffirm the strong partnership between the United States and Sri Lanka for an enduring, resilient, free and open Indo-Pacific,” U. S. Embassy in Colombo said in a statement.
“Admiral Koehler will engage with senior Sri Lankan officials to discuss rising security challenges in the Indian Ocean region, strengthen collaboration on maritime domain awareness and disaster response, reaffirm U.S. commitment to supporting Sri Lanka in combating transnational threats, and discuss the growing cooperation between U.S. and Sri Lankan forces.”
“This visit underscores the United States’ strong commitment to strengthening security ties with Sri Lanka, a key partner in promoting peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.”
Dissanayake’s new administration this week allowed the Chinese military training ship to enter the island nation’s main Colombo port in line with the permission granted to ships from other countries including the U.S., Germany, and India.
Both the U.S. and India have raised strong security concerns over the visits of Chinese research vessels to Sri Lanka.
The government under former president Ranil Wickremesinghe was forced to temporarily ban Chinese ships coming to Sri Lanka for research purposes for one year.
The Chinese military ship is the first foreign military vessel to Sri Lanka under the newly elected President Dissanayake, the leader of Marxists Janatha Vimukthi Peremuna (JVP) which has maintained a strong anti-Indian sentiment in the past.
Admiral Koehler’s visit comes six days after Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s official visit to Colombo in which he met President Dissanayake, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, and Foreign Minister Herath.
Sri Lanka government’s permission for Chinese vessels has led to conflicts with India in the past with Delhi government has repeatedly asked Sri Lanka to focus on the security of the Indian Ocean.
In 2014, then President Mahinda Rajapaksa allowed Chinese nuclear submarines to be docked in Colombo port without informing New Delhi authorities. India strongly raised security concerns over the Chinese submarines.
Later in 2015 January, Rajapaksa lost his bid for the third term presidency and he blamed the Indian intelligence agency for his defeat.
In line with a 1987 pact with India, Sri Lanka has to consult India on security matters that could have an impact on the Indian Ocean.