Indian and Sri Lankan naval talks have concluded, accompanied by familiar language: cooperation, security, partnership. What matters is not what was said—but what was signalled.

Maritime security today is about positioning. Presence is policy.

Sri Lanka sits at a strategic crossroads, insisting on neutrality while engaging all sides. Every naval interaction sends a message, whether intended or not.

These talks are not routine. They are diplomacy by other means.

The challenge is balance. Cooperation is necessary. Alignment is risky. Silence can be interpreted as drift.

Neutrality requires clarity, not passivity. Without it, engagement risks being read as preference.

The ocean appears calm. Beneath it, competition intensifies.

Sri Lanka’s task is not to choose sides—but to ensure it is not chosen for.