Sri Lanka Rejects U.S. Request for Military Planes
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- Sri Lanka refused a U.S. request to base military planes, emphasizing its neutrality in the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran (U.S. officials, Straits Times Asia, The Hindu).
- President Ranil Wickremesinghe publicly confirmed Sri Lanka's refusal of ground access to U.S. warplanes (Straits Times Asia).
- Israel has launched further strikes on Tehran, while Iran continues its attacks on Gulf oil facilities, intensifying regional instability (NPR News).
- Iranians are marking the Persian new year, Nowruz, under the looming threat of strikes, highlighting the human impact of the escalating conflict (BBC World).
Why it matters: Sri Lanka's refusal underscores a shifting global dynamic, as nations resist entanglement in major power conflicts.
