Prime Minister Narendra Modi set out on a three-day visit to Brunei Darussalam and Singapore in a bid to boost ties and celebrate diplomatic milestones.
Both Brunei and Singapore are key partners in India’s Act East Policy and the Indo-Pacific vision. The Prime Minister’s visit aims to strengthen these relationships and expand India’s engagement with the broader ASEAN region.
Brunei is an important partner in India’s ‘Act East’ Policy and Indo-Pacific Vision. India and Brunei enjoy a friendly relationship which is marked by mutual respect and understanding of bilateral and multilateral issues. The two countries are linked by history, culture and tradition spanning a millennium.
India-Brunei Ties & Key Takeaways from the Recent Visit:
The prime minister inaugurated a new Chancery of the High Commission of India and visited the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque. Here are three things to know about the country’s population, its strategic significance for India, and its leader.
1. Brunei’s population and Indian diaspora:
According to official estimates from 2023, Brunei has a population of 450,500 people. Brunei citizens comprise about 76% of the population, with the remaining being permanent or temporary residents. More than 80% of the population is ethnically Malay or Chinese.
The Ministry of External Affairs said in a press release that the first phase of Indians arriving in Brunei started with the discovery of oil in the 1920s. Currently, approximately 14,000 Indians are residing in Brunei. The contribution of Indian doctors and teachers to the growth and development of Brunei’s healthcare and education sectors has been well acknowledged.
2. Strategic importance of Brunei:
Brunei is part of India’s ‘Act East’ Policy and Indo-Pacific Vision.
The ‘Act East’ Policy was formulated as the next step to the ‘Look East’ Policy which originated in the 1990s. In a world without the USSR, which India had close historical ties with, India sought to deepen its relations with other countries, like those in Southeast Asia. Northeast Indian states, due to their proximity to Southeast Asia, were to be instrumental in this.
3.Defense Cooperation:
A Joint Working Group will be established to enhance defense ties between India and Brunei.
There have been regular visits by Indian Navy and Coast Guard ships – ICGS Sagar in March 2014; INS Shakti in August 2014; INS Airavat in May 2016; INS Satpura in November 2017; ICGS Shaunak in January 2019.
4.Space Cooperation Pact:
PM Modi and Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah discussed signing a space cooperation agreement, indicating a mutual interest in advancing technological collaboration in space exploration and satellite technology.
PM Modi expressed appreciation for Brunei’s support in hosting ISRO’s Telemetry Tracking and Telecommand (TTC) Station.
5.Cooperation in the energy sector:
The two countries discussed the possibility of long-term cooperation in LNG supplies.
This is significant as India has dropped its demand for oil from Brunei in favour of Russian oil imports in recent years.
Countering China’s Expansionism in South China- Common ground for both the countries:
Amid China’s aggressive behaviour in the Indo-Pacific region, Prime Minister Modi underlined in Brunei that India does not support expansionism but supports development.
-Both leaders reiterated their commitment to maintaining and promoting peace, stability, maritime safety and security, as well as respecting freedom of navigation and overflight and unimpeded lawful commerce, consistent with international law, notably the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982.
-The leaders also urged all parties to resolve disputes through peaceful means in accordance with international law, particularly UNCLOS 1982.
–Brunei claims to be part of the South China Sea, most of which Beijing says belongs to China.
– But unlike some other countries with claims in the region, Brunei has kept silent on its own claim to a relatively small area off northern Borneo, focusing on growing trade ties with China as the oil-reliant nation diversifies its economy.
–International Experts believe India can capitalise on Brunei’s potential to tap into its China+1 strategy.
-The China Plus One strategy is a business strategy that encourages companies to diversify their manufacturing and supply chains by investing in countries other than China.
Overall Outlook:
Southeast nations of Asia are also important elements of India’s Act East Policy strategy, and thus the impacts of this visit will have long-term benefits for both countries.
The initiatives during this visit not only coincided with the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations but also marked the beginning of more intensified cooperation in the following years.
Given,It is the first of its kind visit by an Indian Prime Minister to a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). It opens many avenues of the cooperation between the two countries.