The Role of Japan–India–Sri Lanka Maritime Security Cooperation in the Trump Era

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis paper focuses on the importance of Japan–India–Sri Lanka cooperation in the Trump era. Japan's security policy gains even greater salience after Donald Trump's victory in the US Presidential elections. Although President Trump has promised to enhance US military might, the US' influence as a security provider has been declining. The Trump administration may also need time to re-establish a security policy and to evaluate its influence effectively. US allies and friendly countries now require a new security framework to adjust to the situation, one which seems to be emerging. This framework is a security network of numerous bilateral, trilateral, quadrilateral, and other multilateral cooperative relationships among US allies and friendly countries. Under this new system, Japan–India–Sri Lanka cooperation has an important role. In the new security order, there is a high probability that India will be the most influential sea power in the Indian Ocean. The strategic location of Sri Lanka has a significant influence on the security of the entire Indo-Pacific. To gainfully obtain its support, Japan and India need to find out what kind of support Sri Lanka needs, for which the Japan–India–Sri Lanka Trilateral Strategic Dialogue will be the best structural mechanism.