When considering the Israel-Hamas conflict which is happening in the Gaza Strip, it is impossible to see this conflict from an isolated conflictual perspective. This links with so many stakeholders who are connected indirectly or directly with the issue. When examining the Israel and Hamas conflict, we can see it as a protracted conflict. First, it emerged as an intra-state conflict and then it transformed to an inter-state conflict. Now, this has transformed into a regional conflict. Hamas is an organisation in Palestine which follows Islamic extremism. On the other hand, Houthi rebels who are based in Yemen also follow Islamic extremism.
“Countries determined by the Secretary of State to have repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism are designated pursuant to three laws. Currently, there are four countries designated under these authorities: Cuba, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), Iran, and Syria.” (United States [US] Department of State, last year [2023])
Diplomatic history
Diplomatic history between Sri Lanka and Israel dates back decades. In 1950, Sri Lanka started diplomatic relationships with Israel, but, in 1970, those relationships collapsed as late Prime Minister Sirima Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike established relationships with the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO). Then, in 2000 again, diplomatic relationships were started between Sri Lanka and Israel. During the Sri Lankan internal conflict period, Israel was a key State that gave military equipment for the tri-forces. The best examples are fast attack crafts and Kfir fighter jets. In terms of foreign employment, over 7,000 Sri Lankans work in Israel as caregivers.
Palestine and Sri Lanka started their diplomatic relationships in 1975. The PLO opened up an Embassy in Colombo. After the Palestinian declaration of Independence in November, 1988, Sri Lanka was among the very first nations that recognised Palestine as a sovereign State.
Israel vs. Hamas
Israel is a Middle Eastern State which is oriented near the Mediterranean Sea and mostly populated by Jews. Hamas is an Islamic Extremist group which is unofficially backed by United States like Iran and Palestine. It was formed in 1987 at the outset of the first Palestinian intifada (uprising). After 2005, they marked their permanent establishment in the Gaza Strip. There is a clear chronological order that Israel engaged in war with rivalries including with Hamas, through a protracted history. Even though Israeli troops left the Gaza Strip in 2005, they continued their attacks against Hamas.
Non-aligned foreign policy & SL
The non-aligned foreign policy is the foreign policy which grasped the fundamental elements of the non-aligned movement (NAM). In the post-World War II era, which is known as the Cold War era, there were two major power blocs in the world.
- The US-led Western power bloc where liberalism was the main political stream
- The Soviet Union-led communist power bloc where communism was the root policy
Both these blocs wanted to confirm their superiority in the world and used the container policy which made followers throughout the world by giving them military and financial aid. The NAM was established for nations which were not followers of both these blocs. There were five main assumptions of this Movement.
- Mutual respect for each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty
- Mutual non-aggression
- Mutual non-interference in domestic affairs
- Equality and mutual benefits
- Peaceful co-existence
Bandaranaike, who was the world's first female to be a Premier, also became a significant character in this NAM. The Fifth Summit of the NAM was held in Colombo in 1976, headed by Bandaranaike. Accordingly, we can come to a conclusion that Sri Lanka was a founding nation of this movement.
SL Naval ship deployment in the Red Sea
As a sovereign State, Sri Lanka has the right to protect its maritime territory. But, regional security and ‘global commons’ are so important in this scenario. The Red Sea area is in the Western Indian Ocean and it is very vital in terms of maritime transportation because the maritime route which connects the Indian and Atlantic Oceans goes through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. Most of the imports and exports of the region go through these waters and the security of this naval space is so important. So, Sri Lanka has a responsibility to protect the Red Sea from the non-traditional threats like this which are created by non-State actors like the Houthi.
“Anything that happens in the Red Sea has a direct impact on our economy and livelihoods,” the State Minister of Defence Premitha Bandara Tennakoon (2023)
Global commons means the space which has access for all nations and goes beyond the national jurisdictions. Examples include the international waters, the airspace and the continental shelf. So, the protection of this Red Sea is a responsibility of all nations. Hence, this deployment can be defined as Sri Lanka tending to its responsibility. On the other hand, Sri Lanka joined the combined maritime forces (CMF) as the 39th nation in November 2023.
“The CMF is composed of a headquarters staff and five combined task forces focusing on defeating terrorism, preventing piracy, encouraging regional cooperation, and promoting a safe maritime environment. The Naval partnership upholds the international rules based order by supporting security and stability across 3.2 million square miles of water encompassing some of the world’s most important shipping lanes.” (CMF, this year [2024])
As a member of this CMF, the Sri Lankan Navy (SLN) is doing their duty by this deployment. When SLN vessels enter the naval area, they will be placed under the command of task force 153.
Because of the terror which was created by the Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, so many shipping companies operate their operations by going around the Cape of Good Hope rather than using the Red Sea and the Suez naval route. Among those shipping companies are Hapag-Lloyd AG, CMA CGM, COSCO and OOCL, Mediterranean Shipping Company SA, A.P. Møller – Mærsk A/S
When we consider the vessels attacked by the Houthi in the Red Sea, most of them are commercial vessels. There are a number of vessels and among the main ones can be listed as follows: CMA CGM TAGE (Malta), MSC CLARA (Panama), BLAAMANEN (Norway), USS Laboon (US), ZOGRAFIA (Malta), KHALISSA (Panama), GALAXY LEADER (Bahamas)
In an award giving ceremony in Sri Lanka, President Ranil Wickremesinghe made a statement by saying that the SLN is ready to deploy a vessel to protect the Red Sea naval area. There is a common argument for this deployment that this deployment will cost Rs. 250 million every fortnight. But, that is a narrow minded statement.
Sri Lanka can get more economical benefits by this deployment than Rs. 250 million. Sri Lankan ships will be funded under the peacekeeping operations. On the other hand, indirectly, Sri Lanka can get so many economical benefits, as an example when Red Sea marine traffic is normal, the Colombo Port becomes a highly profitable Port. On the other hand, the flow of imports to Sri Lanka will be normalised when the Red Sea is normal, as especially crude oil and other raw materials will flow to us without any interruption.
The SLN should be accountable for the security in regional and national waters and by this deployment, they are doing their duty and responsibility.
Conclusion
The primary objective of this deployment is to uphold the free flow of global trade. The Red Sea stands as a critical artery for international commerce, and as a member of the CMF, the SLN bears the responsibility to safeguard this vital maritime corridor under CMF 153. This deployment also promises economic advantages for Sri Lanka. The international community compensates SLN ships for their peacekeeping endeavours. Safeguarding the Red Sea could bolster revenue at the Colombo Port, ensuring the flow of trade to Sri Lanka.
Furthermore, these deployments serve as a crucible for enhancing our Navy's prowess and capabilities. Participating in international operations not only improves our Navy's skills but also elevates Sri Lanka's Naval standing on the global stage. Moreover, such deployments foster regional integration and cooperation, underscoring our commitment to fulfilling our regional obligations. Sri Lanka must bolster its technological capabilities to counter threats posed by well-equipped adversaries using missiles and drones. Upgrading our advanced offshore patrol vessels is imperative to tackle such challenges effectively. Additionally, effective multinational collaboration is indispensable.
(The writer is a Research Intern at the Institute of National Security Studies, the Ministry of Defence. The opinions expressed are his own and not necessarily reflective of the Institute or the Ministry)
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The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect those of this publication