- ‘China a predator, US a partner’
- Promotes democracy, sovereignty
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visits Minister of Foreign Affairs Dinesh Gunawardena for talks on multifaceted engagement between Sri Lanka and USA, Colombo, 28 October 2020. Photo Twitter[/caption]
Addressing journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs a day ahead of the 72nd anniversary of the establishment of US-Sri Lanka diplomatic relations, the top foreign affairs official of the US highlighted the two nations’ shared values of democracy and America’s interest in maintaining Sri Lanka’s sovereignty.
However, neither Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena nor Pompeo divulged any specific details on the discussions held or on any agreements reached during Pompeo’s approximately 20-hour stay in Sri Lanka, during which he held talks with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Gunawardena.
With the entire Sri Lankan media contingent allowed just one question due to time constraints, the press conference only yielded two specific announcements. One, that the fourth US-SL partnership dialogue would be held in early 2021, with the previous sessions having been held in May 2019 in Washington, DC, and the second was that the next session of the US-Sri Lanka joint council of the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) would be convened “at the earliest opportune time frame”.
Subsequently, a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the two parties agreed to “invigorate” the TIFA and the US GSP (Generalised Scheme of Preferences) facility.
Beyond these, it was simply announced at the press conference that the two countries had agreed to make progress on economic, defence, and research areas through intensified co-ordination and to broaden bilateral engagement in areas such as ICT, cyber security, agriculture, science, technology, innovations, trade, investment, business, and climate change.
However, Pompeo’s visit to India, from where he flew down to Sri Lanka, was more detailed according to international media.
US and India signed the Basic Exchange and Co-operation Agreement (BECA) for geospatial co-operation and a couple of other agreements were reached during the visit, while Pompeo took part in the third round of the India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue.
When asked as to what the purpose of his visit to Sri Lanka was, particularly less than a week ahead of the US Presidential Election, Pompeo said it was to strengthen the bilateral relationship.
“The Foreign Minister and I had a great conversation and I had a very positive conversation with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa a bit earlier this morning as well. My overall message in both engagements was very clear. The US seeks to strengthen our partnership with a democratic, peaceful, prosperous, and fully sovereign Sri Lanka.”
Pompeo also expressed confidence that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa would promote accountability, justice, and reconciliation.
“In his victory speech last year President Rajapaksa stated that he is the President of all citizens, and not of only those who voted for him. As our two nations move forward, the US is counting on those words to hold true. We fully expect Sri Lanka will fulfil its pledges to take meaningful, concrete steps to promote accountability, justice, and reconciliation.”
He added that wide-ranging discussions were held on security co-operation, which helps keep one of the world’s most vital sea lanes open.
Both Gunawardena and Pompeo referred to the US as a “friend” of Sri Lanka’s, with Gunawardena expressing gratitude for the US’ assistance of over $ 2 billion to Sri Lanka since independence in 1948.
“The US has been a friend and assisting Sri Lanka in times of difficulty, and we remain deeply grateful for your support. The US’ assistance to Sri Lanka after the Asian tsunami in 2004 was significant. The assistance in the aftermath of the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks in 2019 and also most recently for Covid-19 mitigation, especially, I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation once again for proscribing the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) terrorist organisation even before the 9/11 terrorist attacks up to now.”
Pompeo echoed these sentiments, stating that the US has donated just over $ 6 million in Covid-19 assistance to Sri Lanka and that earlier in the pandemic, Sri Lankan apparel manufacturers saw “hundreds of orders” for high-quality PPE from the US.
He even went a step further and contrasted the US with its chief economic rival China, calling the latter a “predator”.
“We see from bad deals, violations of sovereignty, and lawlessness on land and at sea that the Chinese Communist Party is a predator. The US comes as a friend and a partner,” he said.
Earlier, in a press statement dated 26 October, the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka said that it is firmly opposed to the US taking the opportunity of the State Secretary's visit to sow and interfere in China-Sri Lanka relations, and to coerce and bully Sri Lanka.
However, Gunawardena veered away from a global power battle when pressed by a journalist on his China stance, and maintained that Sri Lanka would remain non-aligned in its foreign relations.
“As a sovereign and independent nation, Sri Lanka’s foreign policy will remain neutral, non-aligned, and friendly. Conscious of the opportunities and responsibilities that come with our strategic location, we see the importance of maintaining the freedom of navigation in our seas and airspace, also protecting the sea lines of communication and the undersea cables. On these principles, we hope to continue our relations with the US and other countries,” he said.
The US is Sri Lanka’s single largest export market bringing export revenue of $ 3.1 billion in 2019, and even amidst the Covid-19 market downturn, the superpower yielded $ 1.1 billion for local exporters in the first half of 2020. Gunawardena invited the US to further support Sri Lanka’s quest for economic growth.
“Sri Lanka’s elections reflect the people’s mandate to safeguard the unitary State’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, national security, and economic progress, presenting a clear opportunity for all our friendly nations, especially the US, to join in our forward journey for a stable, secure nation with economic advancement.”
Responding to a query on the status of the travel ban to the US against Army Commander Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva in February 2020 for alleged “Gross Violations of Human Rights” during the civil war, Pompeo said the US will continuously review the matter, but that there would be no immediate lifting of the ban.
“It’s a legal process and the US will continuously review it and we want to make sure we get it technically, factually, and legally right. We will continue to do that.”
Pompeo flew to the Maldives last afternoon.