Navigating Power Play: Sri Lanka’s Strategic Role in Indo-Pacific Geopolitics
Abstract
The Indo-Pacific’s geopolitical significance has surged due to China’s assertive rise, prompting the QUAD nations to counterbalance Beijing’s influence. Sri Lanka, a strategically located island state, emerges as a key hub for global trade and security. It examines how Sri Lanka navigates its geopolitical position to achieve national goals while balancing the interests of larger powers. Lastly, Colombo’s strategic engagements with major powers and regional frameworks highlight efforts to assert agency and amplify the voices of smaller island states. Despite its strategic importance, Sri Lanka’s agency is constrained by power asymmetries in the Indo-Pacific, contributing to understanding small-state geopolitics.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Maritime Security and History
International Relations and Foreign Policy
Island Studies and Pacific Affairs
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Journal of Strategic Security
- Volume
- 19
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 168–190
- Publication date
- 4 March 2026
- Language
- EN