Sri Lanka :The US envoy candidate supports reforms in and raises worries about China

 Sri Lanka :attempts to recover from its 2022 economic crisis and a devastating cyclone this year, American President Donald Trump’s nominee for US ambassador to Sri Lanka informed lawmakers that Washington will prioritize maritime security, economic reforms, and thwarting China’s expanding influence in the Indian Ocean nation.

Nominee Eric Meyer testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that Sri Lanka is essential to US efforts to advance “a free and open Indo-Pacific” and combat “adversarial influences, including China’s growing presence in the region” because of its strategic location along important international shipping lanes.

“With US Navy ships and two-thirds of the world’s seaborne crude oil regularly passing through its waters, Sri Lanka sits astride some of the busiest shipping lanes in the Indian Ocean,” Meyer said. “It is a focal point for US efforts to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific because of its strategic location.”

Meyer highlighted Washington’s reaction to Cyclone Ditwah, which killed over 600 people and forced hundreds of thousands to flee their homes, and said that, if confirmed, his first priority would be protecting US nationals in Sri Lanka.

He described the reaction as proof of “our strong and enduring partnership with Sri Lanka” and said that the US has provided $2 million in immediate help and used the US military’s strategic airlift assets to support relief operations.

Meyer cited plans to expand the Port of Colombo while discussing Sri Lanka’s recovery from its political and economic crises, saying the nation is “a resilient country poised to become a regional economic leader.”

“The Port of Colombo, for instance, has the potential to double its cargo handling capacity in the coming year, underscoring the important and strategic opportunities that exist in Sri Lanka’s ports, logistics, and shipping sectors,” he said.

Meyer said that he will put pressure on Colombo to carry out the economic changes associated with its IMF program, claiming that national independence and economic autonomy are intertwined.

“This will also create opportunities for increased US investment and companies to invest in Sri Lanka if they can stick to their reforms,” he added, adding that it will further deepen our relations with Sri Lanka.

In response to inquiries, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch cited China’s involvement in Sri Lanka’s port infrastructure as a worldwide warning.

Risch said, “What the Chinese did to Sri Lanka with their port has become a global symbol of why people should avoid doing business with China.”

In response, Meyer said that the US will cooperate with Sri Lanka “to ensure that they assert their sovereignty, and that includes over ports” and that it aspires to “open and transparent” bilateral partnerships.

Meyer said that US involvement with Sri Lanka will revolve on defense and law enforcement cooperation as part of a larger Indo-Pacific strategy.

“To address security challenges, such as aiding in disaster relief, combating transnational crime and trafficking, improving maritime domain awareness, and protecting Sri Lanka’s maritime sovereignty and port security, our defense and law enforcement partnerships are essential,” he said.

In order to “protect waterways and ports for trade,” “lock in commercial opportunities for US companies,” and enhance Sri Lanka’s position as “an emerging regional security partner,” he said, the US will collaborate with Sri Lanka.

If approved, Meyer said he would head an interagency team to pursue a foreign policy that “makes America safer, stronger, and more prosperous.” He also promised to work closely with Congress.

In 2022, Sri Lanka saw its greatest economic crisis in decades, characterized by widespread riots that sparked political unrest, loan defaults, and shortages of foreign currencies. Since then, Colombo has worked to stabilize its economy via measures supported by the IMF.

In the face of competition in the Indian Ocean area, China’s funding of major infrastructure projects, such as the Hambantota port, has come under constant scrutiny in Washington and New Delhi. Sri Lanka is increasingly looking to rebalance relations.