Act East doctrine must work on ties with Brunei

Brunei, one of the world’s richest nations, has remained intriguingly shy of the limelight. The recent direct flight announcement between Brunei and Chennai has come on the heels of Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s maiden visit to Brunei Darussalam on September 3 and 4. Despite Brunei's serene beauty, strategic depth and its role in India's Act East policy, this phenomenally wealthy nation has been somewhat overlooked in Indian diplomatic efforts over the years.

PM Modi's tenure, spanning over a decade, is notable for his extensive travel across the countries of the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean). Yet, Brunei remained absent from his itinerary during his first two term’s. The Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, visited India to commemorate 25 years of ASEAN-India dialogue.

With its wealth and prestige, Brunei, the second remaining absolute monarchy in Asia, enjoys a position of economic pre-eminence that sets a high bar for the region. Brunei's diplomacy is characterised by its balancing ties with both the United States (US) and China. That’s exactly how New Delhi deftly deals with Washington.

However, Brunei's infrastructure development is heavily influenced by the Brunei-Guangxi Economic Corridor, a Chinese initiative. Brunei’s strategy of leveraging its abundant resources and strategic location has enhanced its geopolitical clout, particularly in the contested South China Sea. Brunei’s affluence, underpinned by its substantial investments in.