India and Brunei took a significant step toward bolstering their defence partnership as the two nations convened the inaugural meeting of the Joint Working Group (JWG) on Defence Cooperation in New Delhi.
The development marks the start of an institutionalised framework aimed at deepening military ties, expanding maritime cooperation, and enhancing defence industry collaboration.
The meeting, on Wednesday (December 10, 2025), was co-chaired by Amitabh Prasad, Joint Secretary in India’s Ministry of Defence, and Poh Kui Choon, Deputy Permanent Secretary at Brunei’s Ministry of Defence.
Before the talks began, both sides signed the Terms of Reference (ToR), formally establishing the JWG as the primary platform to monitor ongoing engagements and chart new areas of collaboration.
According to India’s Ministry of Defence, discussions focused on strengthening military-to-military exchanges, expanding joint training activities, and reinforcing maritime security cooperation, especially in safeguarding sea lanes and improving coordination on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR).
The two sides also explored capacity-building initiatives, technology sharing, and potential pathways for greater defence industry partnerships.
The new JWG structure is expected to provide a long-term roadmap for defence engagement, giving momentum to ties that have seen steady growth in recent years.
Both delegations reaffirmed their shared commitment to a peaceful, stable, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region, an area where India’s strategic outreach and Brunei’s geostrategic location intersect closely.
During her two-day visit to India, Choon also called on Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, adding a diplomatic dimension to the technical deliberations.
She later toured the newly inaugurated DPSU Bhawan, a central hub showcasing the capabilities of India’s 16 Defence Public Sector Undertakings and an emerging symbol of India’s push for greater defence manufacturing and innovation.
The inaugural JWG meeting is expected to set the tone for a more structured and comprehensive India-Brunei defence partnership in the years ahead.