• Australia is of the view that Sri Lanka is committed to regional security cooperation
• ADF personnel impressed with professionalism and expertise of Sri Lankan counterparts

Sri Lanka and Australia as maritime nations which share common challenges in the Indian Ocean are better positioned to respond to them by working together as a region, Commander of Australia’s Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2024 (IPE24) Commodore Michael J. Harris told The Sunday Morning in an exclusive interview recently. 

Cdre Harris was in Colombo along with the IPE24 delegation that held multiple engagements with their Sri Lankan counterparts earlier this month.

Australia and Sri Lanka have been growing a mutually beneficial security and defence relationship over the last decade, with the head of the Australian Border Force calling the maritime law enforcement relationship between the two Indian ocean neighbours “the gold standard” last year. 

Australia has also gifted Sri Lanka two patrol boats, coastal rescue craft, spare parts for aircraft and vessels, and specialised training; supplied much-needed fuel for long endurance patrolling in the past; and is expected to deliver a maritime patrol aircraft to augment Sri Lanka’s maritime domain awareness and search and rescue capabilities in the near future. 

The IPE24 was an opportunity for the Sri Lankan State establishment to look at Australia’s ‘whole of Government’ approach to building diplomatic and defence partnerships.

Following are experts from the interview:

Australia’s IPE has come a long way since its first engagement with Sri Lanka in 2019. Why is Sri Lanka an important partner for Australia from a regional security perspective?

Sri Lanka is important to Australia because we have a common interest in an open, stable, and prosperous Indian Ocean Region. We have strong connections and people-to-people links, which underlies our mutual respect and trust. Our engagement spans economic, security, and development cooperation. 

As island nations, we are both reliant on a region that is respectful of sovereignty and international law, upholds freedom of navigation, and is at peace. Our partnership contributes to the collective security of the region we both call home.

What is IPE and what does it entail? 

The IPE is Australia’s flagship regional engagement activity. Between August and December, personnel from the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and Australian Government agencies will conduct activities with 14 host nations in Southeast Asia and the Northeast Indian Ocean. 

Australia is committed to helping deepen our diplomatic and defence partnerships and IPE is just one practical demonstration of the importance Australia places on trusted partnerships with countries that share our home in the Indo-Pacific region.

Why does Australia carry out such a regional security engagement activity periodically? Is it linked to how Australia views the Indo-Pacific region?

Australia is of the region, with the region, and for the region. IPE is but a small part of Australia’s ‘whole of Government’ activities in the Northeast Indian Ocean and broader Indo-Pacific region to develop diplomatic and defence partnerships.

We use IPE to reinforce Australia’s commitment to a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region. Our approach is founded on openness, respect for sovereignty, and adherence to agreed rules and norms.

What is the focus of IPE 2024?

The focus of IPE24 is to strengthen regional relationships and build ‘whole of Government’ partnerships. Personnel from Australia and host nations will participate in military activities and engagement covering maritime law; Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR); and Gender, Peace, and Security (GPS), amongst others.

Given Australia’s recent changes in its defence posture (following the defence review) and its planned increase in capacity for naval and amphibious reach in the Indo-Pacific, will IPE evolve into a broader regional defence focus in the future? 

Australia has a long history of working with regional partners to ensure nations are free to act in their own interests. As our National Defence Strategy 2024 made clear, Australia is committed to working with partners to build a region that is peaceful, stable, prosperous, and respectful of sovereignty and international law. IPE is an important way we are doing this and aligns with the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) outlook on the Indo-Pacific.

What engagements and activities have ADF personnel had with their Sri Lankan counterparts during IPE24, and were any civilian agencies involved as well? 

Our people engaged with their counterparts in the Sri Lanka Air Force and Navy, as well as engagement between our senior leaders. As part of IPE24 we conducted two main activities: first, a legal workshop focused on the application of the law of the sea to maritime surveillance and law enforcement operations; and second, a joint training and information exchange between an Australian Clearance Diving Branch team and Sri Lanka Navy Command Diving and Salvage Unit that focused on rebreather technology, side scan sonar systems, and dive medicine.

Simultaneously, reflective of our ‘whole of Government’ approach to security, Joint Agency Task Force (Operation Sovereign Borders) Commander Rear Admiral Brett Sonter visited Sri Lanka in conjunction with IPE24 and conducted a number of activities with the Sri Lanka Coast Guard.

What response have you got from ADF personnel about their interaction with their Sri Lankan counterparts? And what is your assessment of Sri Lanka’s commitment to regional security cooperation efforts such as IPE24?

The ADF delegations were warmly received throughout IPE24. Our personnel were impressed with the professionalism and expertise of their Sri Lankan counterparts. The ADF personnel participating in IPE 24 enjoyed working with and developing the important people-to-people links that support IPE24 aims. IPE24 reaffirmed our existing view that Sri Lanka is committed to regional security cooperation.

The engagement with the ADF’s Indo-Pacific Centre for Military Law (IPCML) on maritime law and law enforcement was a focus area this year. Why is such legal capacity building important for both countries?

The ADF’s IPCML is a centre of excellence in military law in the region. The IPCML deploys teams of legal officers to partner nations to provide legal training, capacity building, and information sharing and build people-to-people links between our legal professionals.

The legal workshop focused on the application of the law of the sea to maritime surveillance and law enforcement operations that protect the sovereign rights granted by international law, while respecting navigational freedoms. Like Australia, Sri Lanka has a vast maritime jurisdiction and a large search and rescue region. These waters include busy shipping lanes and areas with rich marine biodiversity.

The workshop demonstrates our respect for the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and shared interest in conducting maritime operations in accordance with international law.

How do such engagements between ADF and the Sri Lankan armed forces/agencies help both countries navigate shared security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region?

IPE24 strengthens practical cooperation between our nations and enhances our ability to work together when it matters.

Australia has been a robust security partner to Sri Lanka, especially over the last two decades. In your opinion, is there scope to improve the partnership which is mutually beneficial for both countries?

The relationship between Australia and Sri Lanka is often described as the ‘gold standard’ and this is certainly true. This is especially true of maritime law enforcement. Strong relationships are the foundation for responding to shared security challenges. IPE24 is just one practical way of strengthening our relationship with Sri Lanka.

The defence relationship also includes individual education and training opportunities, ongoing support for maritime operations, and support for developing a sovereign hydrographic survey capability.

What security, maritime law enforcement, and HADR capabilities and capacities would you like to see Sri Lanka develop in the near future to be better placed to respond to shared regional challenges?

The aim of IPE24 is to work collaboratively with host nations, including Sri Lanka.

Australia will continue to work with the Sri Lanka armed forces across many different fields to ensure that the Indian Ocean remains a safe, secure, and prosperous region.