India Signals Strong Interest in ASEAN Region as PM Modi Visits Brunei and Singapore

The ASEAN region is an important partner for India. Therefore, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visits to Brunei and Singapore were important for a number of reasons. His visit to Brunei earlier in September marked the first-ever bilateral visit by an Indian PM to that nation. Modi's visit to Singapore was his first since extending his term as prime minister for a third time.

For a start, Delhi has its "Act East" Policy. With it, India has been trying to reinvigorate its ties with Southeast and East Asian countries. Some of the ASEAN countries like Vietnam and the Philippines have been at the receiving end of China's aggressive maneuvers in the region and have territorial disputes with China.

First Trip to Brunei

The first phase of PM Modi's tour began in Brunei. The country is important for India as it hosts the Indian Space Research Organization Telemetry Tracking and Telecommand Station. A Joint Statement issued at the end of his meeting with Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah notes the importance of "respecting freedom of navigation and overflight and unimpeded lawful commerce, consistent with international law, notably the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982." It is an oblique reference to China.

Singapore, an Important Partner

Next, Modi's travel took him to Singapore, which is an important partner for India in many critical areas. Singapore is also home to a large Indian community. Furthermore, its location makes it critical as it has command of the Straits of Malacca, a major chokepoint.  

India and Singapore both celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations in 2025. They also conduct joint exercises between all three different wings of their armed forces.

India's SAGAR Policy

India has an initiative in the maritime domain known as SAGAR — which means Security and Growth for Everyone in the Region. 

The Indian Navy is one of the major actors in the region and has helped other nations in times of calamities. One example is the Boxing Day tsunami of 2004. PM Modi, speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in 2018, noted that "for over two thousand years, the winds of monsoons, the currents of seas and the force of human aspirations have built timeless links between India and this region. It was cast in peace and friendship, religion and culture, art and commerce, language and literature."

Shared Perspective with Singapore

India and Singapore's leaders signed a joint statement during their meeting. It notes: 

Underlining the link between prosperity and security, the leaders reaffirmed the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, security, stability, safety and freedom of navigation in and overflight above the South China Sea, while pursuing the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Once again, it shows that India and Singapore remain on the same page when it comes to freedom of navigation in the region.

China's Rising Influence

Another factor that is relevant here is China's rising influence. ASEAN countries do not want to get entangled in any kind of a power struggle between the United States and China. Close ties with India allow these nations an important option in their foreign policies. India is reaching out to the region. One concrete aspect of that is the construction of a trilateral highway that will connect India, Myanmar, and Thailand.

India already has a lot of cooperation with countries in the ASEAN region. It conducts joint exercises with the defense services of countries like Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand. Besides, it also supplies BrahMos missiles to countries like the Philippines that take on the Chinese threat in the South China Sea region. 

It is worth noting that India's Andaman and Nicobar island chain is most strategically located. India is also rapidly developing its ties with countries in the region like Vietnam. Besides, it shares a long land and maritime border with Myanmar, another ASEAN member country.

What's In It for Japan?

One of the most important foreign policy objectives of Japan is a free and open Indo-Pacific. In that regard, New Delhi's growing presence in the region works in favor of Japan. 

India and Japan are already coming closer in a wide variety of fields, including the security sphere. Japan pays a great deal of attention to this region. For example, PM Fumio Kishida visited the Philippines in November 2023, when the two sides "signed and exchanged notes for ¥600 million JPY ($4.26 million USD) in "Official Security Assistance (OSA)" grant aid from Japan. 

In addition to India and the Philippines, Kishida paid visits to many of the ASEAN nations during his term in office. And although he will be stepping down in late September, PM Kishida's successor will no doubt chart the same terrain. 

Challenges for India

For India, there are many challenges in the region.

One is economic integration with the ASEAN countries since India is not a member of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership known as RCEP.  In addition, some ASEAN countries have joined the China-led Belt and Road Initiative while India has not joined the BRI. The same goes for countries like Japan. 

Another challenge is that China has far higher levels of economic involvement in the region than India. In addition, some of the ASEAN countries like Cambodia seem to have come under the influence of China in recent years. This development is also worrying for countries like India. 

However, PM Modi's visits to Brunei and Singapore go to show that India remains an important player in the region and that its importance cannot be discounted.

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Author: Dr Rupakjyoti Borah 
Dr Borah is a Senior Research Fellow with the Japan Forum for Strategic Studies. The views expressed here are personal.