Union External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar held a bilateral meeting with Brunei's Foreign Minister Prince Abdul Mateen on Thursday, 23 July 2026, congratulating him on assuming his current responsibilities and discussing a broad agenda spanning emerging technology and regional multilateral cooperation.

Context

Dr. Jaishankar described the meeting as 'warm' and said he conveyed to Prince Abdul Mateen that 'rapidly changing technology, including AI, drones, digital, has opened new vistas of engagement' between the two countries. The minister also confirmed agreement to advance the bilateral agenda in line with India's Act East Policy and to further strengthen multilateral engagements under ASEAN.

Prince Abdul Mateen is a senior member of Brunei's royal family who has taken on foreign ministerial responsibilities, making this meeting part of India's early diplomatic outreach to the new leadership. The encounter underscores New Delhi's practice of engaging counterparts promptly after transitions in partner governments.

Policy Backdrop

India's Act East Policy, launched in 2014 as an upgrade to the earlier Look East Policy, is the strategic framework through which New Delhi deepens economic, connectivity, and security ties with ASEAN member states. Brunei, as a long-standing ASEAN member, sits within this architecture of engagement.

The two countries signed a defence cooperation agreement in 2016 and have maintained regular foreign office consultations since the 1990s. The explicit mention of artificial intelligence, drones, and digital technology in Thursday's readout signals an intent to modernise the bilateral relationship beyond its traditional trade and defence pillars.

This emphasis on technology mirrors India's broader Indo-Pacific outreach, where digital and defence-tech cooperation has become a consistent instrument for expanding strategic influence with smaller ASEAN partners, complementing larger-format engagements at the annual ASEAN-India Summit and the East Asia Summit.

Stakeholders and Impact

The meeting carries implications for ASEAN defence-technology firms and Indian companies operating in the digital and drone sectors, as any follow-on working groups could open procurement or co-development pathways. For Brunei, deepening ties with India offers diversification of its diplomatic and economic partnerships within the region.

Broader ASEAN partners will also be watching: India's consistent bilateral outreach to individual member states — including smaller economies such as Brunei — reinforces New Delhi's commitment to the bloc as a whole, lending credibility to its multilateral posture ahead of the next ASEAN-India Summit.

What's Next

Diplomatic observers will watch for any joint statements or memoranda of understanding that may emerge from this meeting, particularly in the technology and defence domains. The next ASEAN-India Summit is expected to be a key venue where the bilateral momentum generated through meetings such as this one is translated into formal cooperation frameworks.

With AI and drone technology now explicitly on the India-Brunei agenda, follow-up working groups at the foreign-office level could define the contours of a modernised partnership — one that positions both countries to leverage the Indo-Pacific's shifting technological landscape.