Sri Lanka rejects US request to land military aircraft, citing neutrality

Sri Lanka’s president Anura Kumara Dissanayake has confirmed that his government refused a US request to land two combat aircraft at a civilian airport earlier this month, framing the decision as part of a broader effort to stay neutral amid the escalating Iran conflict.

Speaking in parliament on Friday, Dissanayake said Washington had asked for permission to land the aircraft at Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport between March 4 and 8. The request, made on February 26, came just days before the United States and Israel launched their military offensive against Iran.

“They wanted to bring two warplanes armed with eight antiship missiles from a base in Djibouti,” he said. “We turned down the request to maintain Sri Lanka’s neutrality.”

The decision reflects a wider pattern among countries seeking to avoid direct involvement in the conflict, even as pressure mounts from Washington for allies to provide support. The war has already had global repercussions, including disruptions to energy markets and concerns over the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for oil and gas.

Sri Lanka’s position became more complicated by a parallel request from Iran on the same day. Tehran had asked for permission for three naval vessels to make a goodwill visit.

“With two requests before us, the decision was clear,” Dissanayake said, explaining that both were denied to avoid appearing aligned with either side. “Had we said ‘yes’ to Iran, we would have had to say ‘yes’ to the US, as well.”

Despite its neutral stance, Sri Lanka has been drawn into the последствия of the conflict. In early March, its navy rescued 32 Iranian crew members after their vessel was struck near the island’s coast, and later assisted in evacuating more than 200 people from another Iranian ship.