Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held discussions with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Sri Lanka on Saturday and witnessed the signing of energy and defense agreements between the two countries.

The agreements are seen as an effort to strengthen New Delhi’s influence in the neighboring island nation, which is heavily indebted to China.

A five-year defense cooperation agreement provides for the training of Sri Lankan military personnel in India and the exchange of information and technology.

Modi welcomed agreements on defense cooperation and said both countries would collaborate on security cooperation in the Indian Ocean through the Colombo Security Conclave, which also includes Bangladesh, the Maldives, and Mauritius.

The Sri Lankan leader stressed that he understood the concerns of his neighbor, and reiterated that Sri Lankan territory will not be allowed to be used by anyone to undermine India’s security.

The two leaders also virtually inaugurated the construction of a 120-megawatt Indian-funded solar power plant, which is being built as a joint venture between the two countries.

India is increasingly concerned about China’s influence in Sri Lanka, which it sees as falling within its sphere of interest. China is Sri Lanka’s largest bilateral creditor, accounting for more than half of its $14 billion bilateral debt when the island defaults on its sovereign debt in 2022.

Source: https://www.dw.com/en/india-s-modi-visits-sri-lanka-to-boost-defense-cooperation/a-72151761?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf