In what appears to be a manifestation of dissatisfaction with Sri Lanka’s decision to deploy a Navy ship to participate in U.S.-led operations in the Red Sea against Houthi rebel attacks from Yemen, West Asian ambassadors, who recently met with President Ranil Wickremesinghe, asserted that the United States and the United Kingdom engage in such actions as part of their security agreements with Israel, which other nations lack.
The ambassadors, convening with the President on Thursday, underlined their countries’ commitment to ensuring freedom of navigation in the Red Sea while urging Israel to uphold the same principles.
During the meeting, as reported in the recent edition of the Daily Mirror, President Wickremesinghe clarified that Sri Lanka maintains a non-aligned military stance with any specific country. The deployment of the Navy ship is aimed at securing freedom of navigation rather than aligning with a particular nation. Expressing appreciation for Sri Lanka’s support of the Palestinian cause, the ambassadors stressed the importance of Sri Lanka making decisions in accordance with international humanitarian law.
Furthermore, the ambassadors requested Sri Lanka to ensure that its workers in Israel refrain from engaging in resettlement work in ‘occupied territory.’ The discussions underscore the delicate geopolitical balance Sri Lanka is navigating, emphasizing its commitment to international norms and principles.
