Maintaining U.S. Influence in South Asia

South Asia is an increasingly consequential part of the globe. For a long time, the world's center of gravity has been shifting to the East, and the Indian Ocean region is a major part of this trend. Bangladesh, India, the Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka have about 1.5 billion residents combined, comprising nearly 20 percent of the world's population. These nations are located along, or on top of, vital global sea lanes through the Indian Ocean which grows more strategically important by the day. Connecting vital straits and rising Asian economies in the East with the rest of the world and its energy to the West, the Indian Ocean has significant implications for security and trade across the globe. Despite the immense strategic economic importance of these nations, this year's 2017] State and Foreign Operations Congressional Budget Justification shows the administration tends to slash our commitments to them by 48 percent. Under the administration's request, this region is the hardest hit by cuts after Europe and Eurasia. Dramatic cuts to foreign aid are not the way to rein in our out-of-control government spending, especially if they undermine U.S. interests. In Sri Lanka, for example, U.S. foreign assistance will be cut by 92 percent, mostly from accounts that have supported programs to promote the rule of law, democratic reforms, post-Civil War reconciliation, and related efforts. These programs are cost-effective ways to contribute to Sri Lanka's transformation while pursuing a partnership in strategically critical locations.