Analyzes Indian Ocean security; forthcoming book (see URL); US alliances & partnerships. @EWCinWashington. Personal views. https://xitter.cf/t.co/s6NFZ02ApO
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My thoughts on WSJ story: 1) Both Iran & US are targeting outside the CENTCOM AOR (INDOPACOM); 2) It's a rare moment in the era of the "Indo-Pacific" region when the Indian Ocean theater has more hotspots than the Pacific theater; 3) Watching for IO Zone of Peace discourse again
New: Iran fired two intermediate-range ballistic missiles at Diego Garcia, a U.S.-U.K. base in the Indian Ocean, per officials. Neither hit the base, but the move marks a significant attempt by Iran to reach far beyond the Middle East to threaten the U.S. wsj.com/livecoverage/iran-us…
Sri Lanka's medical evacuation of Iranian sailors: "'We rescued 40 sailors, provided them with medical treatment and repatriated them this morning,' the Minister told Daily Mirror, referring to Saturday's operation. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the sailors were aboard merchant vessels located approximately 24 nautical miles off Galle when distress calls were received over their medical conditions."
Sri Lanka repatriates 40 Iranian sailors after humanitarian rescue off Galle
Read more 👉 dailymirror.lk/breaking_news…
The Pacific priority: "The United States is a Pacific nation. More than 1.9 million American citizens and nationals live in Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and approximately 53 million Americans live along the western seaboard, from California to Alaska. Our commitment to the security of the Pacific Islands is steadfast and enduring, and it is a key pillar of our America First Foreign Policy. When the Pacific Islands are secure, the American homeland is safer."
When the Pacific Islands are secure, the American homeland is safer. state.gov/releases/office-of…
If Bangladesh has a submarine cable cut or accident @NewAgeBDcom:
"Hakim: The backup is effectively zero. If the existing submarine cable infrastructure suffers a major disruption, Bangladesh could become almost completely dependent on India." newagebd.net/post/telecom/31…
Iranian tankers continue to be a problem for Sri Lanka.
23 OCT 2026
@CopernicusCMS #Sentinel2 🛰️📷
8 🇮🇷-flagged tankers spotted in imagery today loitering near Sri Lanka
20 🇮🇷 tankers have been loitering in international waters near Sri Lanka after passing their cargo of 🇮🇷🛢️by Ship-to-Ship (StS) transfer over in the Malaysian EOPL anchorage.
They have been sitting here for months. Today some maneuvered back down to vicinity of Galle, maybe for logistics support from ashore?
The tankers have been here between 60 - 100 days.
--
More details at @UANI Iran Shipping Update
unitedagainstnucleariran.com…
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@JemimaShelley @TankerTrackers @AsiriFernandoLK @JonathanEmont @nilanthis @brentdsadler @captsingh @tom_bike @mercoglianos
Pleased to discuss the Smaller South Asian countries--the subject of my forthcoming book (Bloomsbury Academic)--and their relations with the US for the DC Asia Policy Network at @ORFAmerica.
Yesterday, in partnership with the DC Asia Policy Network, we hosted @RHFontaine, @nilanthis, and Gregory Poling of @SoutheastAsiaDC for a discussion on the changing nature of U.S.–#IndoPacific partnerships.
Thanks to everyone who joined us!
"According to the release, the home port shift is part of the Navy’s 'strategic dispersal of ships,' ...Naval Base Kitsap is the Navy’s third-largest Fleet Concentration Area and its most complex multi-mission installation, according to its website. The Lincoln will join its fellow Nimitz-class carrier, USS Ronald Reagan, in Kitsap."
The USS Abraham Lincoln is shifting its home port from San Diego to Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton, Washington, according to a recent service announcement. navytimes.com/news/your-navy…
Great discussion of Bhutan by @sarinatheys using the lens of constructivism: e-ir.org/p/introducing-const…
US defense cooperation with Mauritius, as well as Seychelles, through the New Mexico National Guard under the State Partnership Program.
(1/4)
The @NMNationalGuard recently touched down in Mauritius and Seychelles for an intensive, multi-day security cooperation exchange under the #SPP
The joint delegation focused on building trust, enhancing disaster response, and fostering regional stability. 🧵
Sec Rubio quote highlights connections btw regional strategy (WestHem, Indian Ocean) and national strategy: "[Reliance has] invested in increasing the refining capacity within the United States. So being so close, it made sense to go see their operations, spend some time talking to them about the way we can work together more closely, especially when it comes to energy from the Western Hemisphere that can be refined here. I think that’s helpful to India, but it’s also helpful to us." state.gov/releases/office-of…
Nilanthi Samaranayake retweeted
The original report in @TimesOnlineLK on how China Merchants Port Holding Company pulled out of its massive logistics hub project in the Colombo Port and that the Sri Lanka Ports Authority has agreed to pay US$21.9 million to settle investments in the venture, following a decision by the parties to abandon it. #SriLanka
sundaytimes.lk/261018/news/c…
Question for small states: After China loses interest, do other large powers lose interest? "The SLPA is expected to seek fresh investment proposals for the land following the cancellation. The withdrawal marks the collapse of a major planned foreign investment in Sri Lanka’s port logistics sector, which was intended to strengthen Colombo’s position as a regional shipping and logistics hub."
China Merchants Port Holdings has withdrawn from a proposed US$392 million logistics hub project at the Port of Colombo, with the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) agreeing to a US$21.9 million settlement following the cancellation.
The Chinese port operator confirmed the termination of the South Asia Commercial and Logistics Hub (SACLH) project in a filing to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on October 15, 2026.
The project, originally planned as one of South Asia’s largest logistics complexes, was to be developed under a 50-year build-operate-transfer arrangement.
According to the stock exchange filing, the decision to abandon the project followed changes in external circumstances, adjustments to the project’s implementation environment and timetable, and commercial considerations among the parties.
China Merchants Port held a 70% stake in the project through its subsidiary, Fortune Centre Group Limited, while the SLPA and Sri Lanka’s Access Engineering PLC each held 15%.
The three shareholders had invested a combined US$37.14 million in the project, including US$26 million contributed by the Chinese company’s subsidiary.
Under the settlement agreement, the SLPA will pay US$21.905 million to the project company within 30 days. The payment, together with approximately US$7.85 million in remaining distributable cash, will be allocated among the shareholders according to their ownership stakes, after applicable deductions and expenses.
The proposed five-story logistics complex was granted Strategic Development Project status by Sri Lanka in December 2023, providing several tax concessions, including exemptions from corporate income tax and dividend taxes for 15 years.
However, the project encountered delays and implementation difficulties, preventing it from progressing as originally planned.
According to maritime industry publication Lloyd’s List, the project also faced land and regulatory hurdles.
The SLPA is expected to seek fresh investment proposals for the land following the cancellation.
The withdrawal marks the collapse of a major planned foreign investment in Sri Lanka’s port logistics sector, which was intended to strengthen Colombo’s position as a regional shipping and logistics hub. (Newswire)
The Indian Navy has completed its command of Combined Maritime Forces' CTF-154 task force. The Sri Lanka Navy commanded CTF-154 last year. The Bangladesh Navy may wish to consider joining CMF & commanding this task force next year as it concludes coalition operations in UNIFIL's Maritime Task Force.
The @Indiannavy has handed over command of CTF 154 after an eight month tenure that delivered 7800+ training hours to 1,100+ people from 39 nations.
Read more: bit.ly/4yOIqTQ
#ReadyTogether
Secretary Rubio on sanctions waivers (2 India mentions): "And then you’ve got countries like India, for example, that have voluntarily diversified their energy portfolio but are still getting a substantial amount of energy from Russia because it’s hard to pivot from one day to the next, but they’re also an important ally and partner of the United States." state.gov/releases/office-of…
"Beyond indirect assistance, when India leased contractor-owned, contractor-operated MQ-9B Predator drones to surveil its maritime approaches and border with China, it likely relied on former U.S. military pilots to operate those drones on behalf of the Indian Navy from an Indian military base." By @splalwani
New from @CarnegieSAsia: Ahead of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's visit to India, @splalwani argues that "perceptions of the political relationship have deteriorated faster than its strategic foundations." carnegieendowment.org/emissa…
"The Navy is also merging three of the 14 billets. Those billets are: Director, Plans, Policy and Integration, N5, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, which will merge with assistant deputy chief of naval operations for Operations, Plans, and Strategy, N3/N5B, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations..."
Navy Civilianizes Six Former Flag Billets, Reduces Six to Captains — USNI News
news.usni.org/2026/10/15/nav…
I enjoyed speaking today at @ORFAmerica about @viveksans's excellent new book and sharing my thoughts on US strategy toward the Indian Ocean & India-US cooperation. Thanks to @d_jaishankar and @stratamm. Order Vivek's book from @routledgebooks.
cc @EWCinWashington
This morning, we hosted a conversation on the United States and India in the Indian Ocean. Thanks to @viveksans of @orfonline and @nilanthis of @EastWestCenter for joining us.
Some 📸 :
Great piece as always by @pstanpolitics. I personally wonder if we'll look back on this era and consider the extent to which US-India defense cooperation is siloed/protected from the disruption to other areas of the bilateral relationship.
.@pstanpolitics: “If Trump 2.0 has shown anything thus far, it is that India is not structurally ordained to be favored by the US as it competes with China.” paulstaniland.com/2026/10/10…
Highlighting (perhaps inadvertently) the importance of India for Secretary of State Rubio: "In Asia, the gap is starker: Blinken made nine bilateral stops, Rubio one, to India."
Secretaries of State travel the world, to our biggest allies and to address the most pressing issues. But Marco Rubio does neither. His solo travels take him where assistant secretaries go. Rarely the boss. open.substack.com/pub/ivodaa…
