"Modi's visit to Sri Lanka is a vivid demonstrator of India's 'Neighborhood First' policy, where India extends asymmetric benefits to its neighbors, expecting reasonable assurances on security," Ajay Bisaria, a former Indian diplomat, told DW.
"The blow to the United States is more than symbolic. It is strategic... This really was an initiative that U.S. officials saw as a way to meaningfully counter China's own activities in terms of infrastructure investments in the broader region."