US–Sri Lanka defence pact released, outlining expanded military cooperation

Sri Lanka has publicly released details of a Defence Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed with the United States, following criticism over the government’s refusal to disclose the agreement at the time of its signing earlier this month.

The document, signed on 14 November, formalises expanded defence cooperation between Sri Lanka’s armed forces, the Montana National Guard and the US Coast Guard District 13 under the State Partnership Program (SPP). The agreement was signed at the Ministry of Defence by US Ambassador Julie Chung and Brigadier General Trenton Gibson on behalf of the United States, while Sri Lanka was represented by Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retired).

The government released the text after mounting public pressure, revealing a framework covering joint training, maritime security, disaster response, cyber defence, humanitarian assistance and professional military education. The MOU also includes cooperation on maritime domain awareness, with a focus on trafficking, migration and narcotics interdiction, as well as expanded military-civil coordination for disaster preparedness and response.

Ambassador Julie Chung welcomed the agreement, describing it as “a historic milestone” in bilateral relations. “This partnership with Sri Lanka, reaffirmed through today’s MOU, strengthens our shared resolve for a secure Indo-Pacific—building trust, readiness, and lasting peace through partnership,” she said.

Defence Secretary Thuyacontha said the agreement “represents a progressive initiative” that enhances Sri Lanka’s defence capability and deepens long-standing cooperation with the United States. He added that the new framework “will open new avenues for collaboration, promote capacity-building, and contribute to ensuring peace, security, and stability across the region”.

Brigadier General Trenton Gibson of the Montana National Guard noted: “We are honoured to stand shoulder to shoulder with our Sri Lankan counterparts. Together, we’ll build strength, trust, and lasting bonds that enhance the security of both our nations.”

The newly released document places Sri Lanka within a global network of more than 115 countries partnered with US state National Guards under the SPP. Although elements of the partnership had already been active since 2021 through training exercises and exchanges, the MOU formalises the relationship. Previous engagements include ATLAS ANGEL 2024 and PACIFIC ANGEL 2025, where US and Sri Lankan personnel cooperated on humanitarian assistance and disaster response. In August 2025, the US Coast Guard District 13 hosted Sri Lanka Coast Guard officers in Seattle for joint oil spill response training.

The first official activities under the new MOU are scheduled for mid-2026, focusing on disaster response, maritime operations and professional military education.

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