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VOL. 10, ISSUE 4 (2024)
The importance of India-Sri Lanka relations in contemporary India's foreign policy
Authors
Arindam Kumar Barman
Abstract
The India-Sri Lanka relationship is a vital pillar of India’s foreign
policy, driven by geopolitical imperatives, economic interests, and deep
historical-cultural ties. Strategically located in the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka
is crucial to India's security and its Neighbourhood First policy,
serving as a key partner in the SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the
Region) doctrine. Critically, the relationship is a continuous balancing act.
For New Delhi, ensuring the island nation's stability and security is paramount
to safeguarding its own southern maritime interests and maintaining its
regional influence. Economically, India is a significant trade and investment
partner, and its timely $4 billion assistance during the 2022 economic crisis
underscored its role as a reliable first responder and friend, contrasting with
the debt-trap concerns associated with increasing Chinese influence in the
region. However, the ties are complex. They are often tested by domestic
political pressures in India specifically the Tamil ethnic issue and
fishermen's disputes and Sri Lanka’s efforts to maintain strategic autonomy by
engaging with external powers like China. For India's foreign policy, the
challenge is to manage these internal sensitivities while proactively bolstering
security cooperation, enhancing economic connectivity, and promoting the
political devolution and reconciliation necessary for long-term stability in
Sri Lanka. Ultimately, a stable, friendly Sri Lanka is indispensable for
India's aspirations as a regional power and its vision of a secure Indian
Ocean. Here in this paper I want to highlight the importance of India- Sri
Lanka relation in the contemporary India’s foreign policy.
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Pages:88-92
How to cite this article:
Arindam Kumar Barman "The importance of India-Sri Lanka relations in contemporary India's foreign policy". International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Research, Vol 10, Issue 4, 2024, Pages 88-92
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