Nilanthi Samaranayake

My gratitude to the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) for the invitation to participate in a roundtable discussion on "Maritime Security in the Indo-Pacific: US Strategy and Bangladesh's Strategic Engagement in the Bay of Bengal" last month in Dhaka.

I participated in the Sasakawa Peace Foundation's Northeast Indian Ocean Regional Dialogue in Bangladesh. I spoke about smaller IOR countries engaging the US on its priorities (e.g., business and security burden-sharing) and US strategy toward the IOR. Thanks to Dr. Emadul Islam for the invitation.

Why India is losing ground over Bangladesh and Myanmar to regional rivals Pakistan and China have been drawing closer to Bangladesh and Myanmar in areas such as defence and trade at India’s expense, analysts say.

I spoke with Junaid Kathjoo of @scmpnews.bsky.social about Bangladesh's international outreach & India's approach to Sri Lanka, Maldives & BD. Discussed my framework for Smaller South Asian states which manage their powerful neighbor while engaging India's competitors. www.scmp.com/week-asia/po...

Pleased to speak with Mohammad Asif Khan of the @bsindia.bsky.social about Indian Ocean island countries, India's maritime capacity building, and smaller states' pursuit of a wide range of development options including China. www.business-standard.com/blueprint-de...

South Asia 2025: A Year of Shocks and Shifts • Stimson Center Regional experts unpack one of the most eventful years in recent history for South Asia, where the geopolitical landscape underwent rapid, often unexpected, transformation.

I enjoyed speaking at @stimsoncenter.bsky.social webinar on an eventful 2025 in Smaller South Asian (SSA) countries: Nepal's political upheaval, Sri Lanka's cyclone, Bangladesh's new foreign policy, Maldives-India ties, & SSA entrepreneurial ties with a new US admin: www.stimson.org/event/south-...

A live event organized by the Ocean Policy Research Institute at the COP30 Virtual Ocean Pavilion YouTube video by Global Ocean Forum

I discussed challenges facing smaller Indian Ocean countries & offered ideas for Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, & Maldives to consider in the Bay of Bengal and wider IOR amid US calls for greater burden-sharing. Thanks to Emadul Islam and Sasakawa Foundation for the invite www.youtube.com/watch?v=8K8P...

I'm looking forward to speaking about Indian Ocean security and island states for the Sasakawa Peace Foundation virtual seminar. Thanks to Dr. Emadul Islam for the invitation.

Register: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Nepal is the third of 5 #SmallerSouthAsian countries neighboring India to protest and oust leaders (Bangladesh in 2024 & Sri Lanka in 2022). I examine structural factors that contribute to domestic instability: economic transition in international orgs & strategic competition btw India, China, & US

Nepal’s Foreign Policy Options as a Small State The interim government’s foreign policy toward international partners will ideally enable the transition process.

Pleased to be interviewed on Nepal, Bangladesh, & Smaller South Asian countries in recent pubs:

-In June on Bangladesh-India Relations: Challenges and Opportunities by FPRC Journal:
drive.google.com/file/d/1vsZ9...

-In Sept on Nepal by Saurav Raj Pant:
binduoped.com/2025/09/14/n...

#SmallStates

New Indian Ocean pub: I contributed an essay to Asia Policy's book review roundtable on Darshana Baruah's must-read on #IndianOcean security. Thanks to the National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR) for the invitation.

All 6 roundtable essays are free to download: www.nbr.org/publication/...

I enjoyed speaking at the ORF-CSIS #JakartaFuturesForum2025 on the panel, Securing the Blue Commons: Cooperation for an Indo-Pacific Maritime Order. I discussed a multipolar Indo-Pacific & space for agency amid the US pursuit of greater burden-sharing. #IndianOcean

cc @eastwestcenter.bsky.social

Looking forward to the #JakartaFuturesForum2025 next week, organized by Observer Research Foundation, CSIS Indonesia, and the Indian Embassy in Jakarta.

Details: www.orfonline.org/forums/jakar...

cc @eastwestcenter.bsky.social

‘India in’: Modi’s visit, aid pledge reshape Maldives ties as China wavers India’s willingness to support the Maldives through its economic woes has helped shift Male’s stance to one of cooperation, analysts say.

I spoke with Junaid Kathju of the @scmpnews.bsky.social about India-Maldives relations and President Muizzu's foreign policy approach amid Prime Minister Modi's historic state visit to the Indian Ocean island nation.

cc @eastwestcenter.bsky.social

www.scmp.com/week-asia/po...

Bangladesh's Foreign Policy and US, China and India in a Fluid Indo-Pacific YouTube video by East-West Center in Washington

I appreciated the opportunity to discuss Bangladesh and its foreign relations at @eastwestcenter.bsky.social in Washington, along with Satu Limaye, Aparna Pande, and Ambassador Farooq Sobhan. I focused on US-Bangladesh relations and considerations for the US approach. www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cFT...

Sri Lanka walks the tightrope between US-backed India and China-backed Pakistan As a small state lodged between superpowers, Sri Lanka cannot afford to take sides in the India-Pakistan conflict, analysts say.

My thoughts for the @scmpnews.bsky.social's Dimuthu Attanayake on Sri Lanka and Smaller South Asian (SSA) countries' renewed challenge of navigating the India-Pakistan conflict amid recent hostilities.

cc @eastwestcenter.bsky.social

www.scmp.com/week-asia/po...

My new piece for @perryworldhouse.bsky.social on the future of US minilateralism in the Indian Ocean. I mostly discuss the Quad & engagement since the Trump 2.0 admin. Also I'm tracking what the US wants to burden-share/shift vs. burden-shoulder in the IOR.
perryworldhouse.upenn.edu/news-and-ins...

India, China, and US Influence in South Asia at a Crossroads YouTube video by East-West Center in Washington

I enjoyed speaking at this @eastwestcenter.bsky.social event on South Asia with Satu Limaye, Aparna Pande, & Shantanu Roy-Chaudhury.

I previewed some book project findings about the Smaller South Asian states & how they manage relations with India, China, & the US. www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFOP...

Read my new article at @perryworldhouse.bsky.social: "U.S.-India Maritime Futures: The Upper Limits of Security Burden-sharing in the Indian Ocean."

I provide a history of US strategy toward the Indian Ocean & considerations for the Trump admin's NSS & NDS
perryworldhouse.upenn.edu/news-and-ins...

I'm looking forward to speaking on India, China, & the US in South Asia, organized by @satulimaye.bsky.social at the East-West Center in Washington, w/Aparna Pande & Shantanu Roy-Chaudhury.

Register to join in-person on April 8: www.eastwestcenter.org/events/india...

@eastwestcenter.bsky.social

Is India’s embrace of Mauritius aimed at countering China’s Indian Ocean goals? An ‘enhanced strategic partnership’ between India and Mauritius was announced during PM Narendra Modi’s visit to the island nation.

I spoke with @scmpnews.bsky.social's Junaid Kathju about India’s naval ties with Mauritius, facilities development in Agaléga, & its diplomacy in the Chagos Islands dispute. All signify the importance of this special relationship for India in its Indian Ocean strategy.

www.scmp.com/week-asia/po...

Thrilled to share my book chapter, "US Naval Strategy in the Indian Ocean," in a new edited volume featuring scholars from around the region. I identify 3 US objectives in the IOR, their implementation, & wildcards to consider for future maritime strategy and policy. nsc.anu.edu.au/sites/defaul...

Some thoughts on EU-India relations:

ICYMI, the video of our @apln.network panel discussion on Taiwan, US-Taiwan relations, and cross-Strait issues in 2025 is now up!

My latest article with CAPT (USN ret.) Christopher P. Carlson just dropped! We discuss the technical, tactical and some strategic implications of 🇨🇳 China developing an innovative, hybrid "nuclear battery" submarine (an "SSn", as Chris dubs it), whose prototype sank in Wuhan last summer.

#Type041

I'm looking forward to speaking tomorrow at GWU about Indian Ocean security, India-China maritime dynamics, and the Smaller South Asian (SSA) countries.

Mauritius prime minister says Trump comments on Chagos deal positive - Qiraat Africa Mauritius' Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam has described as "positive" U.S. President Donald Trump's comments that signalled Washington would likely back a

Mauritius Prime Minister Ramgoolam on President Trump's comments about the UK's Chagos Islands draft agreement, including the Diego Garcia military base: “It looks positive. But we will wait and see what are the final proposals.”
qiraatafrican.com/en/15445/mau...