New Delhi, Aug. 15 -- Amid the intensifying US-China rivalry in the Indian Ocean, career diplomat Eric S. Meyer was sworn in this week as the new US Ambassador to Sri Lanka. Known for his emphasis on countering Chinese influence, Meyer's appointment - first made by President Donald Trump in July 2025 but delayed by the Senate confirmation process - comes at a pivotal juncture.

His arrival coincides with that of China's newly appointed envoy, Wei Huaxiang, designated Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary by President Xi Jinping. Upon his arrival in Colombo on August 11, 2026, Wei affirmed that "China always takes Sri Lanka as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy."

Before taking up this post, Meyer served as a career member of ...