Page 70 - MDSL Final

MARITIME DOCTRINE OF SRI LANKA

Some of Oceanic Resources

Regional and Extra Regional Powers in IOR

“Whoever controls the Indian Ocean dominates Asia.
This ocean is the key to seven seas. In the 21st century,
the destiny of the world will be decided on its waters.”
Admiral Alfred Thayer Mahan ( 1840-1914 )

The Indian ocean is a theatre where the great naval powers seek to
extend their power projection in pursuit of their respective national
interests. The emerging geopolitical landscape of the ‘Indo-Pacific’ and
the intense strategic focus thereon by the major powers, both regional
and extra-regional, have added complexity and tension to countries
like Sri Lanka. The situation will remain quite a challengeable due to
strategic outreach of major maritime powers in IOR. The IOR has had a
long history of extra-regional influence and perhaps it could be argued
that some of the many remaining legacies of this, which are evident

52 To Nurture a Stable Environment at Sea