Washington approached Colombo in early March seeking permission to deploy two warplanes at Mattala International Airport. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake told parliament that his government declined the American request, signaling Colombo’s decision to avoid involvement in escalating regional military dynamics.
The aircraft were equipped with anti-ship missiles and planned to be transferred from a US base in Djibouti to Sri Lanka. This development comes amid broader reluctance among several US-allied nations to participate in any potential conflict involving Iran.
Earlier, Donald Trump had expressed frustration over allies opting out, remarking that the United States did not require external assistance. Meanwhile, Trump urged Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to “step up” as he pressed allies for more support over the war with Iran and rising oil prices.