The U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka announced that Admiral Steve Koehler, a 4-star U.S. Navy Admiral and Commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet will visit Sri Lanka on October 10, marking the highest-level U.S. military visit to the country since 2021. 

During the visit, Admiral Koehler will reaffirm the strong partnership between the United States and Sri Lanka for an enduring, resilient, free and open Indo-Pacific, the U.S. Embassy said in a statement.

Admiral Koehler will engage with senior Sri Lankan officials to discuss rising security challenges in the Indian Ocean region, strengthen collaboration on maritime domain awareness and disaster response, reaffirm U.S. commitment to supporting Sri Lanka in combating transnational threats, and discuss the growing cooperation between U.S. and Sri Lankan forces, it said. 

This visit underscores the United States’ strong commitment to strengthening security ties with Sri Lanka, a key partner in promoting peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, the statement added.

As a flag officer, Koehler served as director of Fleet Training at U.S. Fleet Forces Command; director for Operations (J3), U.S. Indo-Pacific Command; deputy commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet; commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet, and director for Strategy, Plans and Policy, J5, Joint Staff. He assumed command of U.S. Pacific Fleet on April 4, 2024.