JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<ul>
    <li><a href="#">short</a></li>
    <li><a href="#">want center</a></li>
    <li><a href="#">loooooooooooooooooong</a></li>
</ul>

CSS

ul {
    display: flex;
    justify-content: center;
    width: 100%;
    background-color: purple;
    list-style: none;
    padding: 0;
}
li:nth-child(1) {
    text-align: right;
    flex: 1;
}
li:nth-child(2) {
    text-align: center;
}
li:nth-child(3) {
    text-align: left;
    flex: 1;
}
li a {
    display: inline-block;
    background-color: red;
    border: 5px solid blue;
}