The Sri Lanka–United States Defence Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which had earlier drawn criticism for not being made public, has now been officially released, detailing the scope and objectives of the agreement signed between the two countries.

The landmark MOU, signed on November 14, strengthens defence cooperation under the State Partnership Program (SPP) between Sri Lanka’s Armed Forces and the Montana National Guard, along with the U.S. Coast Guard District 13.

The agreement was signed at the Ministry of Defence by US Ambassador Julie Chung and Brigadier General Trenton Gibson on behalf of the United States, while Sri Lanka was represented by Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd).

Following public criticism and concerns over transparency, the full content of the MOU was released, outlining collaboration in joint training, disaster response, maritime security, cyber defence, humanitarian assistance and professional military education.

According to the official statement, the MOU formalises a defence partnership aimed at improving interoperability, regional stability and preparedness in the Indo-Pacific region. It also includes cooperation in maritime domain awareness to address trafficking, migration and narcotics interdiction, as well as military-civil coordination in disaster readiness and response.

US Ambassador Julie Chung said the agreement marks a historic milestone in bilateral relations, noting that it strengthens mutual trust and long-term cooperation aimed at peace and regional security.

Defence Secretary Sampath Thuyacontha stated that the MOU represents a progressive step in enhancing Sri Lanka’s defence capabilities, adding that it opens new avenues for capacity building and strengthens the longstanding partnership with the United States.

The agreement also places Sri Lanka within the global network of over 115 nations partnered under the US State Partnership Program, with the first joint activities expected to begin in mid-2026, focusing on disaster response and maritime security. (Newswire)

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Chief of General Staff of the Pakistan Army Lieutenant General Syed Aamer Raza paid an official visit to Sri Lanka recently, holding meetings with Deputy Minister of Defence Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd) and Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd).

Accompanied by Colonel Muhammad Farooq, Defence Advisor at the Pakistan High Commission in Colombo, Lt. Gen. Raza engaged in discussions focused on strengthening bilateral defence cooperation, particularly in capacity building and disaster preparedness.

Deputy Minister Jayasekara acknowledged Pakistan’s continued support through military training for Sri Lankan personnel and emphasized the importance of the recent Sri Lanka–Pakistan Bilateral Defence Dialogue held in Islamabad in April.

In his meeting with the Defence Secretary, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to advancing strategic cooperation and maintaining strong defence ties.

The visit underscored the shared objective of enhancing regional security and mutual understanding through sustained defence collaboration. (Newswire)

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A discussion between Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd) and the Defence Attaché of the United States to Sri Lanka, Lieutenant Colonel Matthew House, centred on areas of bilateral defence collaboration, cyber security upgrades and continued cooperation in defence initiatives.

During the meeting held at the Defence Ministry in Colombo on Monday (21), the U.S. Defence Attaché was accompanied by Assistant Defence Attaché, Seth Nevins.

Upon their arrival, Major General Jayasekara (Retd.) extended a warm welcome to the U.S. delegation, reflecting the longstanding cooperation between Sri Lanka and the United States. 

At the meeting, both sides exchanged views on the importance of maintaining strong defence ties, economic opportunities and collaborative engagements in maritime security. 

The discussion also touched on broader strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific region and the value of maintaining open channels of communication between defence establishments.

This high-level interaction reaffirmed the commitment of both nations to foster mutual understanding and enhance defence diplomacy for regional stability and peace. (Newswire)

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South Indian politician Vaiko has condemned the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and Sri Lanka for defence cooperation during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Sri Lanka.

According to Indian media, The Hindu, the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) General Secretary said in a statement that Modi visited Sri Lanka and held talks with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, adding that the two sides signed seven MoUs, which included cooperation between the defence forces of the two nations.

“It was the Sri Lankan defence forces that massacred over 1.37 lakh Sri Lankan Tamils [during the civil war] and sexually assaulted thousands of women. It also suppressed the liberation movement by brutally killing several persons,” Vaiko said.

“At a time when the Tamil community wanted to bring the Sri Lankan Army before the International Court of Justice in Hague to investigate the genocide, the defence agreement between India and Sri Lanka is highly condemnable,” he added. (The Hindu)

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Sri Lanka is currently in talks with India to set up a small arms manufacturing unit, State Minister of Defence Premitha Bandara Tennakoon said. 

State Minister Tennakoon told the media on Wednesday that Sri Lanka was in the process of discussing a joint venture on the military and defence industry with India. 

Acknowledging that the Sri Lankan Military has the expertise for manufacturing weapons, he said Sri Lanka must look into entering the manufacturing industry.

“We are already doing it, but currently at a small scale.  We are in touch with our Indian counterparts. We can also do wonders with their help. Discussions in this regard are ongoing,” he said. 

State Minister Tennakoon also clarified that Sri Lanka was not trying to purchase any armoury from India at the moment.

“India and Sri Lanka military-to-military connectivity is good and at a high level. India’s manufacturing arm has boomed during the last two decades. It is a model Sri Lanka has to look into, as we can learn a lot from it,” he further said. 

State Minister of Defence Premitha Bandara Tennakoon made the remarks in response to questions raised on his participation in the seminar held on Defence Cooperation to promote Indian Made Defence equipment and explore avenues for collaboration in defence production in Colombo in April. 

Organized by the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka, the seminar was held to identify it as another platform to explore ways of extending India’s increasing capabilities in the defence sector to Sri Lanka. (Newswire)

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An individual arrested for having allegedly sent threatening SMSs to the State Minister of Defence Premitha Bandara Tennakoon and for having shared similar posts on Facebook has been remanded.

According to Ada Derana, the suspect was remanded until August 03 by the Naula Magistrate’s Court.

The suspect was arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department over the offence of having threatened the State Minister of Defence during the ‘Aragalaya’ peoples’ movement protest in 2022. 

During the case hearing, the Senior Government Advocate informed the court that even though people are entitled to freedom of expression under the Constitution, they cannot be used for illegal matters.

The Senior Government Advocate pointed out that the suspect through his actions has violated the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act, as well as the provisions of the Bail Act and called for the suspect to be remanded.

Taking into consideration the facts, the Naula Magistrate’s Court remanded the suspect until August 03. (NewsWire)

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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday asserted that the 1998 Pokhran nuclear tests gave a message to the world that although India is a peace-loving nation which believed in ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ and ‘Ahimsa Paramo Dharma’, it will not let anyone harm the sovereignty, integrity and unity of the country.

While addressing National Technology Day 2023, Rajnath Singh said, “India has not only wished for peace for itself but given the message to the world. Visionaries like Lord Buddha and Father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi are India’s gift to the world. We have never invaded any country nor enslaved it. But, the Pokhran tests gave a message that we will give a befitting reply to every step taken against our dignity.”

Mr Singh termed National Technology Day as an inspiration to adopt a scientific approach while acknowledging the country’s technological achievements.

He underlined the importance of science in the progress of a nation, describing it as the source of power. He emphasised that the scientific approach motivates the youth to contribute to nation-building and ensures holistic development.

The Raksha Mantri believed that India, passing through the phase of demographic dividend, possesses a powerful human resource, which has guided it to a respectable position on the world stage. He called for the optimum utilisation of this human resource to achieve the goal of a strong, prosperous and developed India.

“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we are moving forward with the resolve of Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan and Jai Anusandhan. We have risen in stature on the global stage and the world is witnessing a new ray of hope in India. We will be successful in realising our vision of building a strong and self-reliant ‘New India’,” Mr Singh stated. (NDTV)

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India is planning to purchase missile systems worth $200 million from both, US and Russia, at a time when both nations are pitted against each other over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

A proposal by the defence forces is said to be at an advanced stage in the ministry of defence, news agency ANI reported citing defence sources. It added that the Indian Navy has proposed to acquire more than 20 Klub anti-ship cruise missiles from Moscow and equipment from the US’s Harpoon anti-ship missile system.

The Klub missile from Russia is equipped on the surface warships as well as the Indian Navy’s submarines and it has been one of the important weapon systems for a while, the sources said, ANI reported.

The acquisition of the Harpoon missile system is expected to cost the Indian Navy around $80 million, under a foreign military sales route.

The US Congress had previously permitted the sale of Harpoon Joint Common Test Set as well as the related equipment to India.

The Harpoon missiles are already deployed on the Indian Navy’s anti-submarine warfare submarines as well as aircraft.

India has requested to purchase a Harpoon JCTS, which would include one Harpoon intermediate level maintenance station, repair and spare parts, support and test equipment, personnel training, publications and technical documentation, US government as well as contractor, engineering, technical and logistical support services, among other logistics and programme support elements.

Traditionally, India has used Russian weapon systems. However, it has diversified its acquisition in around the past two decades, with procurements from France and the US. (CNBC)

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India’s military spending of $81.4 billion was the fourth highest in the world in 2022 and saw a jump of 6% from the previous year, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said on Monday. Global spending on military equipment reached an all-time high of $2.24 trillion in 2022. The report mentioned that 2022 was the eighth consecutive year when global military spending rose. The report comes amidst the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, impacting the security architecture of Europe.

China maintained its position as the world’s second-largest military spender, allocating an estimated $292 billion toward military expenditure in 2022. This amount was 4.2% higher than in 2021 and represented an increase of 63% compared to 2013. It is noteworthy that China’s military spending has increased for 28 years in a row.

China maintained its position as the world’s second-largest military spender, allocating an estimated $292 billion toward military expenditure in 2022. This amount was 4.2% higher than in 2021 and represented an increase of 63% compared to 2013. It is noteworthy that China’s military spending has increased for 28 years in a row.

“The invasion of Ukraine had an immediate impact on military spending decisions in Central and Western Europe. This included multi-year plans to boost spending from several governments,” said Dr. Diego Lopes da Silva, Senior Researcher with SIPRI’s Military Expenditure and Arms Production Programme.

Finland, Lithuania, Sweden, and Poland experienced some of the most significant rises in military spending. Specifically, Finland’s military expenditure increased by 36%, Lithuania’s by 27%, Sweden’s by 12%, and Poland’s by 11%.

Military Spending by Russia and Ukraine:

It is estimated that in 2022, Russia’s military spending increased by around 9.2%, reaching approximately $86.4 billion. This amounted to 4.1% of Russia’s gross domestic product (GDP), compared to 3.7% in 2021. Furthermore, according to figures released by Russia in late 2022, spending on national defense – the most significant element of the country’s military expenditure – exceeded budgetary plans drawn up in 2021 by 34% in nominal terms.

In 2022, Ukraine’s military expenditure totaled $44 billion, marking the most significant one-year increase in a country’s military spending ever recorded in SIPRI data, with an increase of 640%. The surge in military spending, coupled with the economic damage caused by the ongoing war, resulted in a considerable increase in Ukraine’s military burden. In particular, the military burden, which measures military spending as a share of GDP, rose to 34% of GDP in 2022, up from 3.2% in 2021. (Live Mint)

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All border issues between India and China need to be resolved per existing bilateral agreements and commitments, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh told his Chinese counterpart Li Shangfu on Thursday, amid simmering tensions over a border dispute in the Himalayas.

Li, who took the post last month, was in the Indian capital on a two-day visit to attend a defense ministers meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on Friday, along with counterparts from Russia and Central Asian nations.

This is the first time a Chinese defense minister has visited India since a 2020 clash between Indian and Chinese soldiers in the Galwan Valley in the border area along their mountain border — which left 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers dead.

Singh “categorically” conveyed to Li that “development of relations between India and China is premised on prevalence of peace and tranquility at the borders,” according to a meeting readout from New Delhi.

Singh reiterated to Li that a “violation” of existing agreements by the Chinese side has “eroded the entire basis of bilateral relations,” adding that “disengagement at the border will logically be followed with de-escalation.”

The two ministers had “frank discussions” about the developments in the border areas, as well as bilateral relations, according to the readout.

A Chinese government account of the talks, posted on Friday, noted that Li said the border situation is “generally stable.” He advocated taking a “long-term view” and placing the border issue “in an appropriate position in bilateral relations,” working toward mutual trust between the militaries and “normalized management” of the area.

After the Galwan clash, ties between the two countries have been on a downward spiral — with tensions escalating further in December last year when their troops clashed in Tawang region of India’s northeastern Arunachal Pradesh state, which China claims as its territory. Injuries were reported on both sides.

It was the first major clash along the 3,500-kilometer Line of Actual Control, the de facto India-China border, since the Galwan fighting.

The nuclear-armed countries fought a brief war in 1962 over their disputed boundary.

Singh will chair the Friday meeting of the eight-member SCO in New Delhi, in which his counterparts from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan will participate along with China. Pakistan will join the summit virtually.

India has also invited Belarus and Iran, which hold observer status in the SCO, to take part in the meeting. Topics of discussion will include regional peace and security, counterterrorism efforts and multilateralism.

This year, India is the chair of the SCO, an intergovernmental organization established in 2001. An SCO foreign ministers meeting is also scheduled to take place next week in the western Indian state of Goa.

Ahead of Li’s New Delhi visit, India and China on Sunday held an 18th round of military talks to try to ease tensions in the border dispute.

“In the interim, the two sides agreed to maintain the security and stability on the ground” in the border area, according to a statement issued by India’s Ministry of External Affairs on Monday.

Beijing said after the military talks that the countries “agreed to maintain close contact and dialogue through military and diplomatic channels, speed up the settlement of relevant issues on the western section of the China-India boundary, and continue to safeguard the peace and tranquility in the border areas.”

Li, a general and veteran of China’s drive to modernize its military, this month met Russian President Vladimir Putin in his first overseas trip as defense minister. During the meeting in Moscow, the two sides vowed to strengthen their military cooperation.

Li, who was sanctioned by the U.S. in 2018 over the purchase of Russian weapons, visited Moscow amid Western pressure against Beijing to urge the Kremlin to end the war in Ukraine. (Nikkei Asia)

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Defence minister Rajnath Singh and his Iranian counterpart Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Gharaei Ashtiyani Thursday reviewed the progress of the key International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) — a 7,200 km-long multi-mode transport project to facilitate movement of freight along Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia and Europe, besides the two countries.

Both India and Iran have backed the project, which seeks to open up a new trade corridor between said countries. Russia, Iran and India had in 2002 signed the agreement for the NSTC project of which the three are founding member states.

This project, along with bilateral defence cooperation, came up for discussion in the bilateral meeting held between the two leaders in New Delhi, ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) defence ministers’ meeting.

A statement by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said both leaders exchanged views on regional security issues, including peace and stability in Afghanistan.

It added that the International NSTC aims to ease logistic problems in Afghanistan and other countries in central Asia.

“Both the leaders emphasised on the age-old cultural, linguistic and civilizational ties between the two countries, including people-to-people connect,” read the statement.

Sources in the defence and security establishment said NSTC has received strong support from India.

Incidentally, the first India-bound Russian cargo — sent by train for the first time using the INSTC — reached Iran last year, having covered around 3,800 km through Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan after which it was sent over to India by sea.

India has been pushing for increased regional connectivity, pursuant to which it is developing the Chabahar port with Iran.

New Delhi has proposed to include the port in the framework of the INSTC.

Located in the Sistan-Balochistan province on energy-rich Iran’s southern coast, the Chabahar port is being increasingly seen as central to connectivity to central Asia.

In February this year, during his State of the Nation Address to the Federal Assembly, Russian President Vladimir Putin had said that Moscow would expand promising international economic connections and build new supply corridors amid crippling sanctions imposed by the US-led West in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine.

“We will develop the ports of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, we will particularly focus on the North-South International Corridor,” Putin had said, noting that the project would open up new routes for business cooperation with India, Iran and Pakistan as well as countries in western Asia. (The Print)

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