Relationship dossier
Sri Lanka
United States
Relationship assessment
Practical cooperation alongside disputes over accountability and the proposed MCC compact
Sri Lanka toward United States
+15Sri Lanka renewed its Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement with the United States in 2017, providing a framework for reciprocal logistics support. However, the Sri Lankan government declined to proceed with the proposed Millennium Challenge Corporation compact in 2020, reflecting domestic concerns about its terms.
United States toward Sri Lanka
+25The United States has provided Sri Lanka with development and humanitarian assistance, including substantial economic and humanitarian support during the 2022 crisis. It has also raised concerns about human rights and accountability related to Sri Lanka's civil conflict.
Overall relationship
+20The relationship combines practical defense and assistance cooperation with persistent policy disagreements. The 2017 logistics agreement and U.S. support during Sri Lanka's 2022 crisis are meaningful cooperative features; disputes over accountability and Sri Lanka's rejection of the proposed MCC compact limit the partnership.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Sri Lanka and the United States have maintained practical cooperation, including defense logistics arrangements and U.S. assistance, while differences over accountability and the proposed Millennium Challenge Corporation compact have complicated ties. The relationship is generally cooperative but not a close, consistently aligned partnership.
Areas of tension
- Disagreement over the terms and implications of the proposed Millennium Challenge Corporation compact, which Sri Lanka declined in 2020.
- U.S. concerns about human rights and accountability related to Sri Lanka's civil conflict.
Key developments
Sri Lanka renewed its Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement with the United States, providing for reciprocal logistics support.
Sri Lanka declined to proceed with the proposed Millennium Challenge Corporation compact.
The United States provided economic and humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka during its 2022 crisis.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and practical implementation of defense and logistics cooperation are unclear.
- The extent of continuing bilateral cooperation on accountability and economic assistance is uncertain.