Disarmament, Indian Ocean and Strategic Externalities: The Case of Sri Lanka

ABSTRACT South Asia, surrounded by the Indian Ocean, is a favorite theatre to continue with the contemporary global strategic power competition of nuclear states. The non-nuclear states in South Asia simply cannot afford to remain complacent about the rapid nuclearisation that is taking place in the region since it results in adverse impacts on their security. Strangely, its underlying security impacts are somewhat ignored and never fully grasped by the non-nuclear states for various reasons. In this setting the author brings out the account of Sri Lanka’s role in disarmament in the passage of South Asia’s gradual transformation into a volatile nuclear region. It also questions the popular opinion whether the cause of disarmament happens to be an exclusive mater to be dealt by the nuclear club. The objective of this paper is to discuss the role that Sri Lanka traditionally played in global disarmament and the effects of third-party security concerns she faces under the emerging nuclear shadow.