The Maritime Relations of India, the Maldives and Sri Lanka
Daily News (via HT Media Ltd.)
The Maldives, Sri Lanka and India share a maritime neighbourhood in the Indian Ocean (IO). The Indian Maritime Security Strategy is clear that India’s maritime neighbourhood and its navy are important facets of its political and economic relationships with countries in that region.
The Maldives and Sri Lanka are strategically located close to major sea lines of communication.
India considers the Maldives and Sri Lanka as being in its sphere of influence, which makes China’s increasing footprint in the island countries a major concern for New Delhi.