The US Navy, against a backdrop of quickening relations between Sri Lanka and China, is sending the USS Nimitz to make the first port call by a US aircraft carrier to the Indian Ocean nation in more than 30 years.
The huge carrier will dock in Sri Lanka’s port of Colombo on Saturday for three days – in the first such visit since the mid-1980s, according to a statement from the US embassy.
“Building our maritime partnership in step with Sri Lanka’s own progress on reconciliation and human rights advances our shared national goals of fostering security and stability,” said US Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives Atul Keshap in a statement.
“I’m delighted that US sailors will have the chance to visit Sri Lanka, meet with its wonderful people, and take part in public service activities at schools, hospitals, and rest homes that will improve the lives of Sri Lankans of all ages… While in port, sailors will also work with local non-profit organizations to support community service events at a local hospital, an orphanage, and other sites.”
The Nimitz and its escorting warships are currently one of three US carrier strike groups operating in the western Pacific. The show of force is a US response to continuing tensions with North Korea over its nuclear weapons program. The deployments have also been made ahead of a visit by President Donald Trump to Asian nations later this week.
But the Nimitz’s flag-showing exercise in Sri Lanka also seems designed to counter a growing Chinese presence in the strategic nation which is not far from sea lanes that carry China’s oil shipments from the Middle East.
China’s state-owned China Merchants Port paid US$1.12 billion earlier this year to the Sri Lanka government for a 70% stake to develop the Hambantota port. Though China’s involvement in the project at Sri Lanka’s southern tip is touted as purely economic, critics contend the expansion of port facilities represents Beijing’s biggest challenge thus far to US naval dominance in the region. The investment is also viewed as a counter to India’s traditional influence in Sri Lanka and the rest of the Indian Ocean.
Yawn! China knows that USA rules the Indian Ocean from its secretive Diego Garcia naval base. India’s navy is not a match for the USN..
US conducted a few thousand atomic bomb tests on the bikini islands for 12 years, exposed the islanders to fallout and used them as guinea pigs to study the effects.
It also studied the effects on ghetto populations within US itaelf by releasing radioactive dusts.
Meanwhile Japan has not much help at all from US to clean up the Fukushima meltdown and now has approached Russia for assistance.
LOL, India and US are frends and allies, Chinku China is a competetor for both.
Falcon Dave
So was Saddam Hussein when US persuaded it to invade Iran.
Ken Nguyen I agree that the US watches the activities in the Indian ocean from diego garcia and is the worlds most powerful navy and no country can match it.The indians have a strategic airforce base in tajikistan to oversee activities north or south of the hindu-kush but does not mean it is initimidating the countries around it.Every nuclear power has kept their strategic assets in far corners of the world.Some known and many others unknown.The US is not a threat to india…it never was.The 7th fleet had a taste of it in 1971 and blinked first when India helped east pakistan gain freedom.Today they exercise together….cold war has ended.
Stanley I wont dignify with a black and blue reply but doklam was a prime example where india didnt react or buckle under pressure with the constant "shrill"from their neighbour up north.There are a lot of Indians and Chinese who live and work together in many parts of the globe with strong bonds of friendship and both know the weaknesses of their governments back home when it wants ti develop their own citizens..it doesnt help both countries with below the belt comments but to focus more on the topic at hand.
Ken Nguyen Thats how the Chinese always see it and view. So why not engage SriLanks into a debt trap, and now Sri Lanka has fallen into and unable to get out…
Ken Nguyen And now the Chinese are sniffing the base from its Coco base..
Sumit Lanong
You forget easily that USA was against India just a few mere decades ago for being independent and its USSR ties.
USA does not have allies merely vassal states. South Korea cannot even get back command of its military despite the previous President Park efforts to do so when the agreement expired. Meanwhile some Indian leaders are being bribed to be pro USA and Indian media is substantially controlled by the CIA. The world watches as India is easily manipulated.and embarks on a self destructive course.
Your comment is realistic unlike others and acknowledges that USA controls the Indian Ocean from its Diego Garcia base. India is vulnerable.
Ken Nguyen I wont just go with what they show in the media about India "sucking"up to the US.Its archaic bureaucracy and foreign policy mandarins calls the shots at the end of the day.Modi may seem excited but knowing India it will play its card well and take its time.
What doesnt help is China pushing India towards US and allying with its "iron brother"pakistan which is an irony by itself.
The US needs India to keep it busy with China -the world knows that and so does India.India also knows how the US can dump its friends when it doesnt need them.The US didnt help Australia when it needed help with East Timor but Australia always stood by the US.Its the great game being played out albiet faster because of China’s rise.
Elstan Fernandez The probem is, Indian want Chinese to engage a dabt trap in India, remember that $100 Billion Chinese investment cry when Xi is visiting? Since the did not get the investment, Chinese choose Pakistan over India for the land road to Indian ocean, Indian has not stop at the chance of talking about debt trap. So you say debt trap, I see sour grape.
Back in the 80s and 90s all american fiction writers with connection to CIA mentioned in their novels Diego Garcia was to check and destroy India ,,,,,guess now they are getting closer
More countries will have to respect FON in the Indian ocean.
it’s nice to have USN visiting Sri Lanka to do public service activities and enhance cooperation with both countries.