Guest Lecture on “Middle Power Agency in a Changing World: Geopolitical Headwinds through Rules, Norms, and International Law” by Professor Bec Strating

June 24, 2026    Reading Time: 2 minutes

Reading Time: 2 min read

The Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies (LKIIRSS) yesterday hosted a Special Guest Lecture on “Middle Power Agency In A Changing World: Navigating Geopolitical Headwinds through Rules, Norms, and International Law.”

The lecture was delivered by Prof. Bec Strating, Professor of International Relations at La Trobe University Melbourne, and Director of the La Trobe Centre for Global Security.

Drawing on current geopolitical developments in the Indo-Pacific region, Prof. Strating highlighted the necessity of preserving strategic autonomy and regional stability among small and middle powers.

She cautioned that the intensifying great power competition risks compromising the sovereignty of non-great powers. She argued that, therefore, these nations must resist coercion and instead prioritize advancing their national interests in today’s fragmented global order.

Explaining the erosion of multilateral institutions and cooperation in enforcing accountability, she observed that competition for global supremacy and a growing disregard for the rules-based international order have vast implications for emerging powers like Sri Lanka.

To avert the potential dangers posed by the great powers, she called for coalitions, continuous engagement with one another via diplomacy, and respect for international law among middle powers.

She also noted the threats posed by rising exceptionalism among dominant global powers around the world, particularly the U.S and China, attributing their unilateral practices to the “obfuscating of realities online which has contributed to an informational grey zone.”

She warned that competing narratives and censorship have complicated the ability to distinguish between truth and falsehood, ultimately intensifying misunderstandings and hostilities as a consequence.

A panel featuring Rear Admiral (Retd.) Y. N. Jayarathna of LKI, alongside Prof. Bec Strating, was moderated by Ms. Piyumani Ranasinghe, Senior Research Fellow of LKI. The speakers reflected on the opportunities and challenges facing Sri Lanka in responding to changing geopolitical and security dynamics.

In response to concerns around how Sri Lanka can elevate itself into becoming an influential middle power, Rear Admiral (Retd.) Y. N. Jayarathna remarked that, “the Indian Ocean cannot afford to have a conflict. Therefore, Sri Lanka must tap into its strategic capabilities to become a key enabler of peace in the region.”

The event was organized by the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies (LKIIRSS) in collaboration with the Australian High Commission.

The event brought together members of the diplomatic corps, senior government officials, representatives of think tanks, researchers, academics, and students to foster contemplation and dialogue around Sri Lanka’s foreign policy alternatives in an evolving global order.