Source: TH
Context:
India and Brunei Darussalam held the inaugural meeting of the Joint Working Group (JWG) on Defence Cooperation in New Delhi on 9 December 2025. This marks a milestone in bilateral defence relations, providing a structured platform to coordinate and deepen security and defence ties.
Areas of Cooperation
- Military Exchanges & Training: Officer exchanges, joint exercises, and professional military education to enhance interoperability.
- Maritime Security: Collaboration for safeguarding sea lanes and ensuring stability in the Indo-Pacific.
- Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief (HADR): Coordinated response to natural and man-made disasters.
- Capacity Building & Technology: Defence industry partnerships, technology sharing, and training initiatives.
Strategic Importance
- Institutionalised Defence Ties: Moves India–Brunei engagement from occasional interactions to a formal, sustained mechanism.
- Regional Stability: Reinforces a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific.
- Industry & Technology: Opens avenues for collaboration between Indian Defence Public Sector Units (DPSUs) and Brunei’s defence sector.
- Diplomatic Engagement: Highlights India’s commitment to strengthening ties with Southeast Asian nations.
