PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Brunei and Singapore from September 3 to 5, 2024, within one hundred days of assuming office in his third term, was a demonstration of the importance that he attaches to relations with the ASEAN and the Indo-Pacific.
These visits following closely on the footsteps of the incoming visits of the Vietnamese and Malaysian PMs, and travel by President Droupadi Murmu to Fiji, Timor L’este and New Zealand underline the commitment of the Indian government to further expand bilateral, regional and global relations with ASEAN and the Indo-Pacific.

Brunei visit
PM Modi’s visit to Brunei was the first-ever bilateral visit by an Indian PM to Brunei since it became independent on 1st January, 1984 and established diplomatic relations with India in May, 1984.

In pursuance of discussions between the Indian PM and Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, bilateral ties were upgraded to Enhanced Partnership. This demonstrates the determination of the two countries to significantly intensify their multi-faceted relations.

PM Modi and Sultan Bolkiah agreed to enhance cooperation on a wide range of issues including defense, connectivity, trade and investment, energy including renewables, space, ICT, health and pharmaceuticals, education and capacity building, culture, tourism, youth, and people-to-people exchanges, as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest.

Since 2000 Brunei has hosted the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO)’s Telemetry Tracking and Telecommand (TTC) Station. During the current visit a renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was concluded to further expand cooperation in this sector.

Brunei is richly endowed with fossil fuels. India is a hugely energy deficient country. It was decided to enter into a long-term Agreement for supply of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to India.

Brunei Airlines plans to launch a direct flight from Chennai to Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei in November, 2024. This will enhance tourism, business connectivity and expand people-to-people connect between the two countries.

It was agreed to intensify defence and maritime cooperation including through regular exchanges of visits, training programmes, joint exercises and visits of naval and coast guard ships between the two countries.

A significant outcome of the visit was the reiteration by the two leaders of an open, free and inclusive Indo-Pacific.

They reaffirmed 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. This was a direct challenge to Chinese expansionism in the South China Sea.

Full agreement between the two sides was also evident in combating global challenges like climate change and terrorism.

Singapore visit
As in the case of Brunei, bilateral ties with Singapore were upgraded to the level of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. This was a clear signal about the commitment of the two countries to further expand their engagement.

Discussions between the two sides built upon the comprehensive discussions at the second India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable on August 26, 2024 in which four senior ministers from India and six ministers from Singapore participated.

The PMs commended the work done by the Ministers in identifying the six pillars (Sustainability, Digitalization, Skills development, Healthcare, Advanced Manufacturing, and Connectivity) for bilateral cooperation.

The Prime Ministers reviewed co-operation in defence and security, maritime domain awareness, education, AI, Fintech, new technology, science, and technology, and knowledge partnership.

They called for strengthening connectivity to boost economic and people-to-people ties, and an acceleration in green corridor projects. Both the PMs reaffirmed the importance of the extensive long standing bilateral defence partnership.

The most significant outcome of the visit was the signing of four ambitious Agreements which will make bilateral ties future-ready by enhancing cooperation in the areas of Digital Technologies, Semiconductor ecosystem, Health and Medicine, and Education.

The MOU in Digital Technologies will boost bilateral co-operation in Digital Public Infrastructure, Cyber-security, 5-G and emerging technologies such as Super-computing, Quantum Computing and Artificial Intelligence.

The agreement on Semiconductor Ecosystem Partnership will encourage co-operation in semiconductor-cluster development, and cultivation of talent in semiconductor design and manufacturing.

Singapore accounts for 10% of global semiconductor output, 5% of global fabrication capacity, and 20% of semiconductor equipment production. This MOU will facilitate investments by Singapore's companies in India.

The pact on Health and Medicine aims to promote closer co-operation in human resource development in healthcare and pharmaceuticals sectors. The fourth Agreement focused on Educational Co-operation and Skill Development.

As in the case of Brunei, PM Modi and the Singapore leadership reaffirmed the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, security, stability, safety, and freedom of navigation in and overflight above the South China Sea, while pursuing the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law, particularly UNCLOS 1982, without resorting to the threat or use of force.

Conclusion
PM Modi’s bilateral visit to Brunei, the first by an Indian PM marked the 40th anniversary of establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations as well as 40 years of Brunei’s independence.

In addition to its high symbolism, it was highly substantive in taking forward cooperation between the two countries in bilateral economic, political, security and strategic areas as well as in promoting regional peace, security, and prosperity.

India and Singapore share trust and confidence amongst their leaders. This was evident when PM Modi held separate meetings, not only with PM Wong and President Shanmugaratnam, but also the two former PMs of Singapore viz. Lee Hsien Loong and Goh Chok Tong who continue to occupy influential positions in Wong’s cabinet.

PMs of Singapore normally stay in their position for several years. Goh Chok Tong was PM for 14 years, and Loong for 20 years. It can be expected that Wong, still being young (51 years) and having become PM in May, 2024, will have a long innings.

The visit provided a welcome opportunity to PM Modi to establish a personal rapport with PM Wong which will be hugely beneficial for both the countries for many years.

PM Modi’s visit to Singapore was highly substantive and far-reaching because India and Singapore already enjoy deep and strong commercial, economic and people to people ties.

PM Modi’s visits to Brunei and Singapore will impart a huge impetus to India’s partnership with these countries as well as with the ASEAN.

***The writer is a Distinguished Fellow at Ananta Aspen Centre; he was the Ambassador of India to Kazakhstan Sweden and Latvia; views expressed here are his own