Dragging Sri Lanka into an unethical and illegal conflict

The United States and the United Kingdom attacked Yemen last week marking the beginning of yet another unilateral and illegal military action. The strikes are targeting Yemen’s Houthi forces that have threatened shipping in the Red Sea. US and British warplanes, submarines, and ships launched missiles against targets across Yemen controlled by Houthi groups, which are believed to be backed by Iran and commenced a maritime campaign as support for Palestinians who have been on the receiving end of attacks in the Israel-Hamas war. 

Whatever the supposed justification for these attacks by the US and UK, as long as they are not sanctioned by the United Nations Security Council, they remain illegal and in violation of international law.

These developments are particularly concerning since President Ranil Wickremesinghe announced that the Sri Lankan navy will be joining a coalition of countries that would be patrolling the waters of the Red Sea. Speaking at an awards ceremony on 3 January, the President announced that a navy vessel will be soon deployed to the Red Sea to help defend shipping lanes. He is correct to point out that the disruption of shipping lanes in the Red Sea would lead to increased freight charges and cargo costs, increasing import prices in the country.

While the economic interests and objectives may be clear, it is necessary that the Sri Lankan intervention is also ethical as well as legal.

The primary reason for the escalation of violence in the Middle East in recent months is the genocidal campaign carried out by Israel to eliminate and in the very least ethnically cleanse the Palestinian population in its occupied territories, particularly in Gaza. At least 23,000 Palestinian civilians have been massacred by Israel since October with the overt support of the US and the UK. These countries have also provided diplomatic cover to Israel at the United Nations, especially at the Security Council, repeatedly using their veto power to prevent resolutions demanding ceasefire and unimpeded access to humanitarian assistance. In other words, the US and UK have given carte blanche to Israel to carry out a genocide.

The Houthi actions, whatever the means and methods, must be seen as resistance. In the midst of a campaign of genocide and ethnic cleansing against the indigenous peoples of Palestine by the settler coloniser State and its Western patrons, Sri Lanka is at risk of choosing the wrong side in this historic battle. When even Western nations such as France are reported to have refused to join the US-UK coalition in the Red Sea it is highly questionable why Sri Lanka would insert itself into a conflict that has greater ramifications than those concerning sea lanes and freedom of navigation. 

Even more concerning than the ethical considerations of this conflict are the legal imperatives. Today, Israel has been hauled before the International Court of Justice for the violation of the Genocide Convention. The attack on Yemen, reminiscent of the US-UK misadventure in Iraq, is illegal as per international law. Two permanent members of the Security Council have not seen it fit to obtain its authorisation under Chapter VII of the UN charter that provides for interventions in countries under certain circumstances that threaten international peace. Through their illegal strikes on Yemen, they have now undermined the international coalition that is joining in on the patrolling of the Red Sea. By extension Sri Lanka is about to insert itself into an illegal conflict that is not sanctioned by international law.

It is best for President Wickremesinghe to keep Sri Lanka out of what is clearly an unethical and illegal conflict.