India, Brunei Hold First Joint Defence Working Group

• India and Brunei formalized their defence cooperation through the first Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting
• Talks emphasized military exchanges, joint training, and maritime security
• Brunei explored India's defense manufacturing capabilities and future project opportunities

In New Delhi, India and Brunei convened their inaugural Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting concerning Defence Cooperation to create a more sound, structured and systematised framework between the two countries.

The objective of this meeting was to expand military collaboration, enhance Maritime Security in the Indo-Pacific region, and explore avenues for Defence Technology and Industry Collaboration between the two Nations.

The JWG's inaugural meeting established the dedicated mechanism to serve as a guideline to enhance and further develop Defence Engagement between India and Brunei, with both sides agreeing to the Terms of Reference which defined the scope and how it would work.

This new JWG mechanism will enable greater continuity and cooperation in Defence between India and Brunei, beyond just one-off visits or ad-hoc discussions on Defence Cooperation, thereby creating a more predictable, focused and results oriented Partnership in Defence.

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The two state parties discussed opportunities for increasing the number of military-to-military exchanges (i.e., increased frequency of scheduled visits and training programs) as well as the professional interaction of both militaries (for example: through increased interaction at different levels). The two delegations also agreed to increase joint training activities, including courses, joint training exercises and capacity building initiatives in areas of mutual interest.

Maritime Security was highlighted as an area of priority, particularly with respect to safe sealanes, information sharing and cooperation in providing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. Both delegations agreed that training and skills development, along with institutional linkages would be important to build a sustainable level of interoperability over time between the defence institutions of both countries.

In addition to talking about building on the existing Joint Working Group (JWG) relationship, both sides discussed future opportunities for cooperation within the Defence Industry (DI), particularly regarding technical partnerships and through partnerships for cooperative initiatives and cooperative technical assistance (e.g.; through India being exposed to Brunei's growing defence industry).

The Brunei DHSU’s Deputy Permanent Secretary (DPSU), Mr Poh Kui Choon, was hosted at DPSU Bhawan in New Delhi, displaying India's growing Defence Industrial Base (DIB) and potential for future DI projects.