The Indian Ocean, once a relatively quiet arena of global politics, is fast becoming the new chessboard of strategic influence. In this dynamic landscape, India has begun to reassert its role with deliberate clarity. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Sri Lanka signals a major inflection point ~ not just in bilateral relations, but in the wider recalibration of regional power dynamics.

The visit, underscored by critical defence and economic agreements, marks a significant moment in India’s neighbourhood-first approach finally meeting ground-level execution. For too long, India’s neighbourhood diplomacy suffered from a gap between rhetoric and delivery. Meanwhile, China’s foray into South Asia, particularly through its Belt and Road Initiative, changed equations rapidly. In Sri Lanka, the loss of sovereignty at Hambantota and rising debt dependence had........

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