India's CDM delegation visits Brunei, explores energy security and maritime ties
Synopsis
India's College of Defence Management delegation visited Brunei's Prime Minister's Office, Defence Academy and Muara Naval Base in a single tour — just one day after the two countries held a Joint Trade Committee meeting focused on pharma, healthcare and energy. The back-to-back defence and trade engagements reveal a concerted push to upgrade India-Brunei ties across multiple strategic tracks simultaneously.
Key Takeaways
India's College of Defence Management (CDM) delegation visited Brunei Darussalam on its International Strategic Management Tour , announced on 15 October 2026 .
The delegation visited Brunei's Prime Minister's Office , Defence Academy , and Muara Naval Base , engaging with the Commander, Royal Brunei Navy .
Insights were gained on Wawasan 2035 , Brunei's national vision covering energy security and maritime coordination.
The visit followed the third India-Brunei JTC meeting held in New Delhi on 14 October , identifying pharmaceuticals , healthcare , and energy as key cooperation sectors.
The next JTC meeting will be hosted by Brunei Darussalam .
A delegation from India's College of Defence Management (CDM) has visited Brunei Darussalam as part of its International Strategic Management Tour, gaining first-hand perspectives on Brunei's long-term development blueprint, energy security frameworks, and maritime coordination mechanisms, the Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) announced on Thursday, 15 October 2026. The tour encompassed visits to Brunei's most consequential governmental and military institutions.
Key Engagements During the Tour
The delegation called on Brunei's Prime Minister's Office, where it received briefings on Wawasan 2035 — Brunei's national Vision 2035 — covering its priorities around energy security and regional maritime coordination. The itinerary also included the Defence Academy and Muara Naval Base, where the delegation engaged directly with the Commander, Royal Brunei Navy, in the presence of India's High Commissioner to Brunei.
'The delegation also visited military establishments including Defence Academy, Muara Naval Base and engaged with the Commander, Royal Brunei Navy in the presence of Hon'ble High Commissioner of India to Brunei,' the IDS said. 'With visits to key ministries and departments, the delegation gained rich perspectives on regional security and the interactions provided a comprehensive understanding of areas of mutual interest, including Defence Cooperation,' it added.
Timing: A Day After Trade Talks
The defence visit came just one day after India and Brunei held the third meeting of the India-Brunei Darussalam Joint Trade Committee (JTC) in New Delhi on 14 October. That session reviewed bilateral trade and economic cooperation and explored avenues to deepen commercial ties. The JTC meeting was co-chaired by Amit Verma, Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and May Fa'ezah Ahmad Ariffin, Permanent Secretary, Economy and Trade, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Brunei Darussalam.
Pharma, Healthcare and Energy in Focus
The trade discussions identified pharmaceuticals, healthcare, and energy as priority sectors for deepened bilateral engagement. Both sides explored regulatory collaboration and procurement opportunities in healthcare, while energy talks covered both traditional and emerging partnership frameworks to support sustained industrial growth. India also signalled interest in expanding exports of agricultural goods and pharmaceutical products to Brunei.
What Comes Next
The next JTC meeting is scheduled to be held in Brunei Darussalam, according to a statement from India's Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The back-to-back defence and trade engagements signal a deliberate effort by both nations to broaden ties across security, energy, and economic domains. Notably, this dual-track diplomacy — simultaneous movement on defence and trade — reflects the growing strategic weight India is placing on its ASEAN-linked partnerships amid evolving Indo-Pacific dynamics.
Point of View
Particularly those sitting astride critical maritime corridors. Brunei's position at the mouth of the South China Sea gives this engagement a strategic dimension that goes beyond routine military education exchanges. What is less clear is whether these interactions will translate into a formal defence cooperation agreement or remain at the level of institutional familiarity-building — a gap that India's defence diplomacy has struggled to close with several smaller ASEAN states.
NationPress
16 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the purpose of India's CDM delegation visit to Brunei?
The College of Defence Management delegation visited Brunei as part of its International Strategic Management Tour to gain insights on Brunei's Vision 2035, energy security frameworks, and maritime coordination. The visit included meetings at the Prime Minister's Office, Defence Academy, and Muara Naval Base.
Which institutions did the Indian delegation visit in Brunei?
The delegation visited Brunei's Prime Minister's Office, the Defence Academy, and Muara Naval Base, and engaged with the Commander of the Royal Brunei Navy in the presence of India's High Commissioner to Brunei.
What is Brunei's Vision 2035 or Wawasan 2035?
Wawasan 2035 is Brunei Darussalam's long-term national development blueprint aimed at achieving a dynamic and sustainable economy, a skilled workforce, and improved quality of life by 2035. Energy security and regional stability are central to its strategic priorities.
What were the outcomes of the India-Brunei Joint Trade Committee meeting?
The third JTC meeting held in New Delhi on 14 October identified pharmaceuticals, healthcare, and energy as priority sectors for deeper bilateral cooperation. Both sides also explored expanding Indian exports of agricultural goods and pharmaceutical products to Brunei, with the next JTC meeting to be held in Brunei.
How does this defence visit fit into broader India-Brunei relations?
The back-to-back defence and trade engagements reflect India's strategy of deepening ties with ASEAN partners across multiple tracks simultaneously. Brunei's location near critical South China Sea shipping lanes gives the relationship a strategic dimension beyond routine bilateral diplomacy.
