Addressing an audience of diplomats, military leaders, and experts at the Colombo Air Symposium 2023 which commenced yesterday at Eagles' Lakeside Banquet and Convention Hall in Attidiya, he highlighted the transformation of the Indian Ocean from a maritime trade route into a global nexus for security, strategy, economics, environment, and social issues.

He noted that major global powers are increasingly vying for influence and supremacy in this vital region, leading to heightened strategic importance.

He discussed the intense competition between major powers, primarily the United States and China, and how this has turned the relatively peaceful Indian Ocean into a strategic battleground.

He emphasized that stability in the Indian Ocean is essential for India's security and a stable global order.

“The US has relegated the Indian motion to support India's role as a net security provider. National interests of states drive the international system. For effective regional defense cooperation, there needs to be a strong sense that commonly held interests are under threat, at risk, or vulnerable with geostrategic environment being at its core,” he said.

He acknowledged the absence of a region-wide security architecture and called for alignment with existing regional frameworks and initiatives, including the ASEAN outlook on the Indo-Pacific and the Indian Ocean Dream Association.

“It is observed that the Indian Ocean itself is largely free of conflict and disputes. However, the prism of the Indo-Pacific tensions tend to reflect into the Indian Ocean region. Therefore, it is imperative to keep the big power rivalry and external conflicts out of the Indian Ocean,” he said.

During his speech, he highlighted Sri Lanka's neutral position, emphasizing the country's commitment to abstaining from military-assault alliances and aspirations for a conflict-free Indian Ocean.

He mentioned Sri Lanka's historic role in declaring the Indian Ocean a zone of peace in 1971.

In a testament to Sri Lanka's commitment to safeguarding the Indian Ocean, the Chief of Staff highlighted the nation's technological advancements and global partnerships.

He underlined the critical role that these advancements play in ensuring the security and stability of the Indian Ocean region.

Ratnayaka expressed gratitude for the support Sri Lanka has received from friendly nations, particularly India and the United States. India's provision of drone aircraft and the United States' assistance in bolstering naval capabilities have significantly contributed to Sri Lanka's role in the Indian Ocean, he said.

He said that friendly nations have engaged in military training exercises and participated in forums like the symposium, highlighting their commitment to supporting Sri Lanka's role in ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Meanwhile, Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force, Udeni Rajapaksa, highlighted the pivotal role of the Colombo Air Symposium as a platform that brings together researchers, air power practitioners, and policymakers to discuss and analyze the significance of air power in the evolving geopolitical landscape.

The geopolitical and the geographical disposition of our country bestows upon us the unique and distinct capacity to capture the political interests of national, regional, and extra-regional stakeholders, with the prime emphasis on the air and space domain, he said.

(Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya)