For the first time, an Indian prime minister has visited Brunei; Prime Minister Narendra Modi is off on a historic trip to the country in Southeast Asia. The 29th Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, personally invited people to the visit. The strategic importance of Brunei in light of India’s Act East Policy is highlighted by this visit.
Known by its common name, Brunei, Brunei Darussalam is a small Southeast Asian nation situated on the island of Borneo. With a mere 5,765 square kilometers under its belt, it is smaller than many Indian states, including Sikkim. As of 2023, Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital city, is home to about 2 lakh of Brunei’s 4,55,885 citizens.
The monarchy in Brunei was established in the fourteenth century, and Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah took the throne in 1967. Bolkiah assumed the position of Prime Minister in 1984, following Brunei’s separation from Britain. Even though Brunei is small, its Sultan is well known for his enormous wealth; up until the 1980s, he was at the top of global rich lists. According to Forbes, the country’s natural gas and oil reserves account for the majority of his estimated net worth of over Rs 1.4 lakh crore.
The largest palace in the world, “Istana Nurul Iman,” is home to Sultan Bolkiah. This lavish home, which is 2 million square feet in size, was built in 1984 for about Rs 50,000. It has 1,700 rooms, 250 bathrooms, five swimming pools, a garage that can accommodate over 200 cars, and a 22-carat gold dome.
The Sultan’s personal collection of over 700 luxury vehicles, worth over $5 billion, consists of roughly 500 Rolls-Royces and 300 Ferraris. In addition, he owns a private Boeing 747 covered in gold. And his stables can accommodate about two hundred horses.
Strict Sharia law is in effect in Brunei, and it carries harsh punishments for offenses like adultery and theft. The nation passed these severe laws in 2014, and in 2019 they faced even more international criticism for enforcing the death penalty through stoning as a punishment for adultery and same-sex relationships.
Brunei contributes significantly to India’s strategic interests despite its small size. Brunei’s economy depends heavily on its large reserves of natural gas and oil, and India has invested about $270 million in the country’s hydrocarbon industry. Both countries are looking into increasing their cooperation in fields like healthcare and space technology. Given the ongoing territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea, Brunei’s support is strategically crucial for India in the Indo-Pacific region.
