Elephant versus Dragon: India and China compete for influence
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Sri Lanka— an island of great strategic importance. Shipping routes from Asia to Europe run alongside it. The parties signed an agreement on defense and joint construction of a solar power plant. At the same time, China is also actively cooperating with Sri Lanka - Beijing controls the port of Hambantota and provides financial assistance to the country. The story of the confrontation between India and China in this region can be found in the Izvestia article.
Neighbors first of all
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the opening of construction work on a 120 megawatt solar power plant in neighboring Sri Lanka. This project is of crucial importance for the island's economy. Due to the 2022 crisis, the government faced severe electricity shortages in 2022 due to the inability to pay for oil and coal for its power plants. As a result, it was decided to gradually reduce Sri Lanka's dependence on fossil fuels.
Together with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the Indian Prime Minister signed an agreement on energy and defense. In addition, according to Narendra Modi, the countries will cooperate in the field of security in the Indian Ocean within the framework of the regional grouping "Conclave on Security in Colombo," which also includes Bangladesh, Maldives and Mauritius.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President Anura Dissanayake have agreed to cooperate in ensuring security in the Indian Ocean.
The Sri Lankan leader stressed that the island's territory would not be used for any actions that could harm India's security, as well as stability in the region. "I am grateful to President Dissanayake for his sensitivity to India's interests. We believe that we have common interests in the field of security," said Modi, who this time was awarded the highest award given to foreign leaders.
He added that the security of both countries is interconnected and interdependent. According to Modi, India assigns Sri Lanka a special place in its "neighbors first" strategy and performs its duties as a truly friendly neighbor when Sri Lanka is experiencing difficulties.
"This is seen as an attempt by New Delhi to strengthen its influence in this island country. India is concerned about China's growing presence in Sri Lanka, which is located on one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world and which India considers part of its strategic rear," The Seattle Times notes.
Help from Beijing
According to the newspaper, Beijing had previously provided Sri Lanka with loans worth billions of dollars for the implementation of infrastructure projects. However, against the background of the economic crisis on the island in 2022, India also began to provide large-scale financial and material assistance.
"At the same time, China's support for the restructuring of infrastructure loans is extremely important for Sri Lanka," the newspaper notes.
Meanwhile, China is planning to build a $3.7 billion oil refinery next to the Hambantota port, handed over to Beijing after Sri Lanka failed to repay a loan to develop the port.
"This will allow China to gain a foothold in the country directly opposite the coast of India. Both India and China have agreed with Sri Lanka on the terms of its debt restructuring, which will allow the country to exit bankruptcy and rebuild its shattered economy.
However, not everyone in Sri Lanka was satisfied with the deepening of cooperation with New Delhi. On the day of the signing of the agreement between the two countries, hundreds of protesters gathered at the main railway station in Colombo, claiming that the agreement was "a betrayal of the country in favor of Indian domination."
— India is building its relations with Sri Lanka based on the principle that both countries should prosper. And where there are shared benefits, they should be used for their own needs," says Nandan Unnikrishnan, Honorary researcher at the Observer Research Foundation Expert Center.
In his opinion, in this case, New Delhi did not primarily proceed from the existing problem of confrontation with Beijing. Although India is concerned about China's actions, the visit to Sri Lanka and the agreements signed there should be viewed from the point of view of improving bilateral relations.
— On the other hand, geopolitics, of course, plays a role. Naturally, India is very concerned about the growing Chinese influence in South Asia. And this is understandable, because India's relations with China are not the best," the political scientist said in an interview with Izvestia.
Benefits for Sri Lanka
Vasily Kashin, director of the Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies at the Higher School of Economics, noted in a conversation with Izvestia that China had never claimed control over Sri Lanka, although it had implemented its program of cooperation with it.
According to the expert, it includes investments in the port of Hambantota, as well as a certain level of military cooperation with Sri Lanka. China, in particular, supplied certain types of weapons to the Sri Lankan army. They still make up a significant part of what the country's army has in service. India has always watched this partnership with some nervousness, the political scientist noted. According to Kashin, New Delhi has always viewed this as an attempt by China to "climb into the Indian backyard."
— India reacted to this more on a political level. But over time, she also began to offer her own alternatives. In other words, the Indians are trying to act as investors, seeking to conclude new infrastructure agreements and promote initiatives. Narendra Modi is acting in this vein," the expert explained.
He stressed that the rivalry between the two major regional players is beneficial for Sri Lanka.
— This is not a reason for the aggravation of Sino-Indian relations. Maybe the Chinese will also join the competition and try to offer something from their side. For Sri Lanka itself, the current situation, when large countries compete for its market, is a good thing," the analyst concluded.
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