During a special briefing ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Singapore, Secretary East of the Ministry of External Affairs, Jaideep Mazumdar, confirmed that maritime security will be a key topic of discussion with Singaporean leadership. Mazumdar highlighted the shared perspectives of India and Singapore on maintaining safe and secure sea lines of communication, particularly in the South China Sea.
“India’s stance on the South China Sea is well-known, and for Singapore, it is equally important to maintain secure, free sea routes,” Mazumdar stated, expressing confidence that these issues would be on the agenda during PM Modi’s visit.
Mazumdar also indicated that regional issues, including the situation in Myanmar, are expected to be discussed during PM Modi’s visits to Brunei and Singapore. “As common ASEAN members, both Singapore and Brunei will likely discuss regional matters, especially when bilateral visits occur,” he explained.
Detailing the Prime Minister’s itinerary, Mazumdar noted that PM Modi’s trip to Brunei marks the first-ever bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the country, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations. He will visit Brunei on the invitation of Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah before heading to Singapore from September 4-5 at the invitation of Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
During the visit to Brunei, PM Modi will engage in comprehensive discussions on various aspects of bilateral relations, exploring new areas for cooperation. Highlighting the warm and friendly ties between India and Brunei, Mazumdar mentioned the multiple sectors of engagement, including defence, trade, energy, technology, health, and cultural exchanges.
Mazumdar emphasized Brunei’s support for India’s space program, mentioning three existing Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) in this area and a telemetry tracking and command station in Brunei that assists with monitoring India’s eastward satellite launches.
Brunei, described as a crucial partner in India’s Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific vision, has played a significant role in fostering India’s relations with ASEAN, particularly during its tenure as India’s Country Coordinator from 2012 to 2015. Mazumdar noted the importance of defence cooperation, citing the MoU signed in 2016 and renewed in 2021, which facilitates high-level exchanges, naval visits, joint exercises, and training programs.
“The defence partnership is a key pillar of our bilateral cooperation, and we are working towards establishing a Joint Working Group for enhanced defence collaboration,” Mazumdar added, underscoring the significance of PM Modi’s visit in advancing India’s strategic partnerships in the region.