India-Brunei Maritime Diplomacy: Strengthening the 'Act East' Policy through Naval Engagement

The Indian Navy’s indigenous frontline warships, INS Sahyadri and INS Kamorta, arrived at Port Muara, Brunei, on May 5, 2024. This visit is a critical component of India’s broader naval deployment to the South China Sea and Southeast Asia, reflecting the nation’s growing strategic footprint and maritime interest in the Indo-Pacific region.

The primary objective of this visit is to bolster maritime security cooperation and facilitate professional exchanges between the Indian Navy and the Royal Brunei Navy. Such interactions are vital for building interoperability and sharing best practices in maritime operations, including maritime domain awareness and tactical maneuvers. These engagements help in fostering mutual trust and understanding between the two naval forces.

From a strategic perspective, Brunei occupies a significant position in the South China Sea, a region currently witnessing complex geopolitical shifts. India’s naval presence here is a practical manifestation of its 'Act East' policy, which has evolved from purely economic cooperation to a more robust security partnership with ASEAN nations. By engaging with Brunei, India reinforces its role as a 'Preferred Security Partner' in the region, contributing to the collective security of the maritime commons.

Furthermore, the deployment underscores India’s steadfast commitment to a "rules-based maritime order." In the context of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), India advocates for freedom of navigation and overflight, which are essential for global trade and regional stability. This maritime diplomacy serves as a soft-power tool, projecting India’s naval capabilities while fostering a stable and secure maritime environment in the face of unilateral assertions in the region.