The Geopolitics of Maritime Port Consolidation: Assessing Sovereign Autonomy Vulnerabilities in Fragile South Asian Littoral States

Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies | Vol. 13, No. 12, December 2022 | pp. 100–108

DOI: 10.46882/2022/GJPCS/131201

Article Type: Original Research Paper

Title: The Geopolitics of Maritime Port Consolidation: Assessing Sovereign Autonomy Vulnerabilities in Fragile South Asian Littoral States

Authors: Ranil S. Jayawardene¹, Alexei V. Volkov²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Political Science, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka; ²Department of Information Security, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia

Abstract:
This study investigates the structural dynamics linking foreign commercial deep-water maritime port investments, strategic equity swaps, and the incremental containment of sovereign political autonomy within fragile developing coastal states. Utilizing a political economy framework integrated with maritime traffic data and transnational commercial transaction registries from 2020 to 2022, we analyze how bilateral debt leveraging alters regional security architectures. The empirical field observations indicate that the strategic conversion of unpayable state debts into long-term infrastructure leases fragments local municipal administrative oversight and heightens regional maritime friction. Quantitative modeling shows that coastal nations characterized by high infrastructure credit dependency face a 45% reduction in sovereign territorial monitoring capacities and a marked rise in local civil demonstrations regarding traditional land access right exclusions. The study highlights the systemic failure of regional multilateral coalitions to enforce equitable financing metrics or offer independent state credit alternatives. We conclude that sustainable maritime stabilization requires establishing transparent, multilateral debt-restructuring panels that prioritize local ecological preservation and community asset protections over structural foreclosure actions.

Keywords: Maritime Port Consolidation; Infrastructure Equity; South Asia Security; Debt Leveraging; Political Economy; Sovereign Autonomy

Manuscript Timeline: Received: May 02, 2021; Revised: July 28, 2021; Accepted: September 15, 2021; Published: December 15, 2022

Citation: Jayawardene, R. S., & Volkov, A. V. (2022). The Geopolitics of Maritime Port Consolidation: Assessing Sovereign Autonomy Vulnerabilities in Fragile South Asian Littoral States. Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies, 13(12), 100–108. DOI: 10.46882/2022/GJPCS/131201

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