How Sri Lanka became India's last "friend" in South Asia

India’s relationships with several of its neighbors have grown increasingly complicated — and in some instances openly strained. New Delhi has had to reconsider which partnerships it can truly depend on and mobilize when necessary. In this evolving environment, Sri Lanka — often described as India’s “age-old” friend — has taken on renewed significance, viewed not just as a neighbouring state but as a strategic necessity to grab a hold of.

For much of the post-independence era, India regarded South Asia as its natural sphere of influence. Its geographic size, economic clout, and military capabilities positioned New Delhi as the central actor shaping regional political and security affairs, facing limited external competition. That strategic ease has gradually eroded, as an article by The Diplomat outlet highlights. 

Over the last two decades, China’s deepening engagement with smaller South Asian nations has reshaped the regional balance, introducing rivalry where India once encountered little.

Despite bouts of economic hardship and political transition, ties between Colombo and New Delhi have largely remained stable, allowing cooperation to continue — particularly during crises. This was evident in India’s rapid assistance during Sri Lanka’s 2022 economic collapse and again in its response to Cyclone Ditwah under Operation Sagar Bandhu.

Cyclone Ditwah, which struck in November 2025, became Sri Lanka’s deadliest natural disaster since the 2004 tsunami. The storm killed 643 people, left 211 missing, and affected more than 2.18 million individuals — nearly 10 percent of the population.

By contrast, India’s relations with several other neighbours have deteriorated sharply.

Ties with Bangladesh — India’s closest land neighbour — have faced severe strain since the removal of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024. The interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus recalibrated Dhaka’s foreign policy, expanding engagement with China and Pakistan. This shift marked a departure from decades of close alignment with India, according to the outlet’s analysis, and signaled a change in strategic priorities. Domestic instability further complicated matters, particularly after the assassination of Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent figure in the student movement that helped unseat Hasina, which heightened tensions.

In Nepal, memories of the 2015–16 economic blockade continue to influence relations with India. Widely viewed in Kathmandu as pressure applied during Nepal’s constitutional transition, the article argues that the episode underscored the country’s reliance on Indian trade corridors and essential supplies, leaving a lasting imprint on its foreign policy outlook. In response, Nepal sought to diversify its partnerships and, in 2017, joined China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), collaborating with Beijing on major infrastructure and connectivity projects.

To the southwest, the Maldives experienced a more dramatic policy shift. President Mohamed Muizzu rose to power largely on the back of his “India Out” campaign, which portrayed India’s military presence as a violation of Maldivian sovereignty. After taking office, Muizzu moved swiftly to secure the withdrawal of Indian personnel, and by May 2024, the final contingent had departed.

Meanwhile, India’s relationship with Pakistan has reached a historic low. Ongoing border tensions and episodes of military escalation — including a four-day confrontation in May 2025 involving India’s Operation Sindoor and Pakistan’s Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos — coupled with shrinking diplomatic engagement, have left ties deeply constrained. At the same time, Pakistan has strengthened its strategic alignment with China, further reducing prospects for a meaningful reset in India-Pakistan relations.

Against this backdrop, Sri Lanka stands out as one of the few South Asian countries — in a region long considered India’s backyard — where New Delhi continues to maintain steady and dependable relations. This reality underscores Colombo’s growing strategic value to India.

What makes this dynamic particularly notable is that, unlike India, which faces contentious ties with multiple neighbours, Sri Lanka has largely sustained cordial relations across the region. Trusted by India and respected by other South Asian states, Colombo occupies a unique diplomatic position that few countries can claim.

By Nazrin Sadigova