Pakistan’s planned joint naval exercise with Sri Lanka in the waters near Trincomalee, a port city where an energy hub is being developed with Indian involvement, was canceled following concerns raised by New Delhi, according to Hindustan Times, citing sources familiar with the matter.
The exercise was scheduled for the weeks leading up to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka earlier this month. During the visit, New Delhi and Colombo signed a landmark defense cooperation agreement, along with a tripartite agreement involving the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to develop the Trincomalee energy hub, including a multi-product pipeline.
The proposal by Pakistan, particularly the suggestion to conduct the exercise in Trincomalee’s waters, was viewed as a provocative move aimed at India, according to Hindustan Times, citing an unnamed Indian official. This development came after Sri Lanka implemented a one-year moratorium on foreign research vessels last year, a decision largely influenced by activities involving surveillance ships from China, Pakistan’s close ally.
Upon learning of the planned exercise, the Indian High Commission in Colombo communicated New Delhi’s concerns to Sri Lankan authorities, stressing India’s strategic stakes in the region. In response, Sri Lanka quietly canceled the drill, despite protests from the Pakistani side, the report added.
Although the exact dates of the planned exercise were not disclosed, the Pakistan Navy frigate PNS Aslat visited Colombo in February and March. During this visit, the vessel conducted a passing exercise (passex) with a Sri Lankan Navy warship near Colombo, focusing on communication and tactical maneuvers, according to a statement by the Sri Lankan Navy.
Strengthening India-Sri Lanka Defense Ties
The defense memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between New Delhi and Colombo on April 5 marked a significant step in bolstering bilateral defense ties. It is the first major update in this sector since India’s involvement in Sri Lanka’s civil war in the late 1980s. The agreement aims to enhance structured defense cooperation, including joint exercises and potential collaboration in defense industries.
Additionally, the tripartite MoU involving India, Sri Lanka, and the UAE focuses on developing an energy hub in Trincomalee. This includes refurbishing and developing a World War II-era oil tank farm, partly operated by Indian Oil Corporation’s Sri Lankan subsidiary.
India’s investments in Trincomalee are part of its broader strategy to counter growing Chinese influence in Sri Lanka. This comes amid Beijing’s increasing footprint, highlighted by a $3.2-billion oil refinery project in Hambantota, a port city leased to China for 99 years.
