India’s Strategy in the Indian Ocean and South Asia: Implications for Sri Lanka’s National Security

Abstract

As a result of the steady growth of the Indian economy vast financial resources have accrued to the Indian government. The Indian government is using these financial resources to pursue a very ambitious strategy in the Indian Ocean and South Asia. Regional stability and cooperation play a very important role in India?s strategy and in the Indian and South Asia. In pursuing an ambitious strategy in the above mentioned regions India would do well to pay attention to its closest maritime neighbour, Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka occupies a central and geopolitically significant location in the Indian Ocean and is an important country in the southern part of South Asia. This paper will focus on the content of India?s strategy in the Indian Ocean and South Asia, and the implications of India?s strategy in the Indian Ocean and South Asia for Sri Lanka?s national security. This paper will examine challenges and opportunities faced by the India-Sri Lanka relationship. These opportunities and challenges concern the continuing separatist threat to Sri Lanka, the large scale poaching by fishermen from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu in Sri Lankan waters and the China factor. In order to examine these issues the paper will first look at India?s strategy in the Indian Ocean and South Asia, second it will move onto a consideration of Sri Lanka?s national security, and third it will attempt to identify the challenges and opportunities faced by India-Sri Lanka relationship.