New Delhi plans to venture out in strengthening strategic ties with Colombo to counter Beijing’s influence in the island nation.
India to deepen its trade and defence relations in the Indian Ocean waters as it aims to strengthen its ties with neighbour Sri Lanka. The two countries have given their consent to work together with a discussion on military and coastguard cooperation.
Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa’s visit to India in November contributed to financial investments and aids in Colombo. Sri Lanka had urged India and the West to increase investments in the island and bail out Colombo from China’s economic invasion. India has promised to invest aid of 50 million USD for economic cooperation in maintaining regional security.
India consolidated to build up military ties in the meeting held between Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa and India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Saturday. Sri Lanka Prime Minister is also expected to visit India in the coming days as both the nations look forward in bolstering and revisiting their traditional ties.
India seeks to take advantage of the geographical proximity with its island neighbour in the face of the challenge from the Chinese economic influence in Sri Lanka. After leasing its Hambantota Port to Beijing for 99 years, Colombo would rather prefer cooperation with New Delhi than be in another debt burden of the red dragons.
