The United States will urge Sri Lanka to make “difficult but necessary choices” on its economic relations when Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visits there next week, a senior US official said on Thursday, apparently refering to China’s deepening influence over Colombo.
Pompeo will also visit India, the Maldives, and Indonesia on an Asian tour whose main goal is expected to be garnering support in countering China.
His trip comes a week before the November 3 US election in which President Donald Trump has made being tough on China a key part of his campaign to secure a second term.
Pompeo and other