Nilanthi Samaranayake
nilanthis.bsky.social
Nilanthi Samaranayake
@nilanthis.bsky.social
Analyzes Indian Ocean security; writing book on Smaller South Asian states in major power rivalry. Visiting Expert, US Institute of Peace; Adjunct Fellow, East-West Center in Washington; and Adjunct Professor, NESA Center. nilanthis.com
I participated in the Sasakawa Peace Foundation's Northeast Indian Ocean Regional Dialogue in Bangladesh. I spoke about smaller IOR countries engaging the US on its priorities (e.g., business and security burden-sharing) and US strategy toward the IOR. Thanks to Dr. Emadul Islam for the invitation.
January 23, 2026 at 8:00 PM
I'm looking forward to speaking about Indian Ocean security and island states for the Sasakawa Peace Foundation virtual seminar. Thanks to Dr. Emadul Islam for the invitation.

Register: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
October 25, 2025 at 7:56 PM
New Indian Ocean pub: I contributed an essay to Asia Policy's book review roundtable on Darshana Baruah's must-read on #IndianOcean security. Thanks to the National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR) for the invitation.

All 6 roundtable essays are free to download: www.nbr.org/publication/...
August 14, 2025 at 3:46 AM
I enjoyed speaking at the ORF-CSIS #JakartaFuturesForum2025 on the panel, Securing the Blue Commons: Cooperation for an Indo-Pacific Maritime Order. I discussed a multipolar Indo-Pacific & space for agency amid the US pursuit of greater burden-sharing. #IndianOcean

cc @eastwestcenter.bsky.social
August 11, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Looking forward to the #JakartaFuturesForum2025 next week, organized by Observer Research Foundation, CSIS Indonesia, and the Indian Embassy in Jakarta.

Details: www.orfonline.org/forums/jakar...

cc @eastwestcenter.bsky.social
August 1, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Read my new article at @perryworldhouse.bsky.social: "U.S.-India Maritime Futures: The Upper Limits of Security Burden-sharing in the Indian Ocean."

I provide a history of US strategy toward the Indian Ocean & considerations for the Trump admin's NSS & NDS
perryworldhouse.upenn.edu/news-and-ins...
April 2, 2025 at 5:04 PM
I'm looking forward to speaking on India, China, & the US in South Asia, organized by @satulimaye.bsky.social at the East-West Center in Washington, w/Aparna Pande & Shantanu Roy-Chaudhury.

Register to join in-person on April 8: www.eastwestcenter.org/events/india...

@eastwestcenter.bsky.social
March 25, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Thrilled to share my book chapter, "US Naval Strategy in the Indian Ocean," in a new edited volume featuring scholars from around the region. I identify 3 US objectives in the IOR, their implementation, & wildcards to consider for future maritime strategy and policy. nsc.anu.edu.au/sites/defaul...
March 4, 2025 at 3:32 PM
I'm looking forward to speaking tomorrow at GWU about Indian Ocean security, India-China maritime dynamics, and the Smaller South Asian (SSA) countries.
March 3, 2025 at 6:04 PM