COLOMBO – Sri Lanka is open to collaboration with any global partners willing to respect its autonomy, President Ranil Wickremesinghe told an international audience in Washington DC, USA, recently.

Participating in ‘Ocean Nations: The 3rd Annual Indo-Pacific Islands Dialogue’ moderated by Dan Baer, Senior Vice President for Policy Research at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and hosted by the Carnegie Endowment and Sasakawa Foundation, he said, “Sri Lanka’s government does not align itself with either India or China and firmly stands for Sri Lanka’s interests above all else,” adding that the commitment to sovereignty extends to other island nations in the region.

Highlighting the reluctance of island nations in the Indian Ocean and South Pacific to become embroiled in the rivalry between major world powers, he said, “These nations are focused on their own priorities, including social, economic, and ecological development and seek to maintain their sovereignty and independence.”

He said island nations in the Indian Ocean and South Pacific have distinct priorities, unrelated to the Quad (comprising the US, India, Japan, and Australia) or China’s objectives,” but noted that Sri Lanka was open to collaboration with any partners willing to respect its autonomy.

Explaining that  China’s rise occurred within existing regional frameworks such as APEC and ASEAN, which many nations prefer to maintain, he however said the recent expansion of great power rivalry beyond these frameworks has raised concerns among member nations.

Claiming the South Pacific and the Indian Ocean hold immense strategic value, he said, “The South Pacific is a vital hub for the US Navy and the Indian Ocean played a crucial role in World War II.”

The Indo-Pacific concept has gained recognition, primarily due to mounting challenges from China, Wickremesinghe said, adding that it has prompted a re-evaluation of regional dynamics and co-operation, such as the Jakarta Concord within the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).

Sri Lanka is to host the 23rd Ministerial Council meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) in October this year, when its chairmanship is expected to go to Sri Lanka.

Wickremesinghe said that the Quad had shifted from a focus on security and dialogue to applying coordinated pressure in the region, adding that island nations find security dialogues acceptable but emphasize non-interference in their internal affairs.

“The island nations of the Indian Ocean and South Pacific are resolute in their pursuit of independence, non-interference and the protection of their unique priorities amidst the evolving dynamics of great power rivalry in the Indo-Pacific region,” he said.

-EN/PMD/ENCL