NEW DELHI, INDIA, 14 October 2026 – The Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (SHHBIDSS), Ministry of Defence, Brunei Darussalam, participated in the inaugural ASEAN–India Defence Think Tank Forum held on 14 – 15 October 2026 in New Delhi, India.
The Track 1.5/2 forum hosted by the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses, brought together defence and strategic studies institutions to exchange perspectives on regional security and explore opportunities to strengthen cooperation between ASEAN and India. Held in the 2026 ASEAN–India Year of Maritime Cooperation, the two-day forum gathered participants from India and ASEAN Member States, consisting think tank researchers, military officers and industry representatives. The inaugural session featured an address by India’s Minister of Defence, Shri Rajnath Singh, and welcome remarks by Ambassador Sujan R. Chinoy, Director General of MP-IDSA, while India’s Defence Secretary, Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh, delivered a keynote address.
Representing SHHBIDSS, Research Officer Md Umair Akmal Haji Noor Ahsffian, contributed to Session III – HADR Cooperation in the Maritime Domain. His presentation, “Climate Change and HADR Cooperation in the Maritime Domain – Operationalising the ASEAN–India Partnership” explored how ASEAN and India could strengthen practical cooperation in anticipating and responding to climate-related disasters, particularly those affecting maritime and coastal communities. It highlighted the importance of linking climate-related early warnings with defence consultation, operational readiness and coordinated responses, and emphasised that ASEAN–India cooperation should be a partnership based on mutual assistance, given the shared vulnerabilities both sides face, while respecting national sovereignty and the consent of affected states.
SHHBIDSS’s participation reflects its commitment to contributing research-informed perspectives to regional defence and security discussions. Through engagement with regional and international research institutions, the Institute continues to support dialogue on emerging security challenges and identify practical avenues for cooperation relevant to Brunei Darussalam and the wider Indo-Pacific region.
IPPSSHHB SERTAI ASEAN–INDIA THINK TANK FORUM BUAT PERTAMA KALI
NEW DELHI, INDIA, 14 Oktober 2026 – Institut Pengajian Pertahanan dan Strategik Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (IPPSSHHB), Kementerian Pertahanan, Negara Brunei Darussalam, telah menyertai ASEAN–India Defense Think Tank Forum yang diadakan pada 14 – 15 Oktober 2026 di New Delhi, India.
Forum Trek 1.5/2 ini dianjurkan oleh Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses dan menghimpunkan institusi kajian pertahanan dan strategik bagi bertukar-tukar pandangan mengenai keselamatan serantau serta meneroka peluang untuk memperkukuh kerjasama antara ASEAN dan India. Diadakan dalam ASEAN–India Year of Maritime Cooperation 2026, forum dua hari ini menghimpunkan peserta dari India dan negara-negara ASEAN, think tank, pegawai tentera dan wakil-wakil industri. Sesi perasmian menampilkan ucapan perasmian oleh Menteri Pertahanan India, Shri Rajnath Singh, dan ucapan alu-aluan oleh Duta Sujan R. Chinoy, Ketua Pengarah MP-IDSA, manakala Setiausaha Pertahanan India, Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh, menyampaikan ucaptama.
Mewakili IPPSSHHB, Pegawai Penyelidik, Md Umair Akmal Haji Noor Ahsffian, telah menyumbang kepada Sesi III – HADR Cooperation in the Maritime Domain. Pembentangan beliau yang bertajuk “Climate Change and HADR Cooperation in the Maritime Domain – Operationalising the ASEAN–India Partnership” membincangkan bagaimana ASEAN dan India dapat memperkukuh kerjasama praktikal dalam menjangka dan menangani bencana berkaitan perubahan iklim, khususnya yang menjejaskan komuniti maritim dan pesisir pantai. Pembentangan tersebut menekankan kepentingan menghubungkan amaran awal berkaitan perubahan iklim dengan perundingan pertahanan, kesiapsiagaan operasi dan tindak balas yang diselaraskan, serta menegaskan bahawa kerjasama ASEAN–India wajar dilihat sebagai perkongsian berasaskan bantuan bersama (mutual assistance), memandangkan kedua-dua pihak berhadapan dengan kerentanan (vulnerability) yang sama, di samping menghormati kedaulatan negara serta persetujuan negara yang terjejas.
Penyertaan IPPSSHHB mencerminkan komitmen institut tersebut untuk menyumbang perspektif berasaskan penyelidikan dalam perbincangan pertahanan dan keselamatan serantau. Melalui penglibatan bersama institusi penyelidikan serantau dan antarabangsa, IPPSSHHB terus menyokong dialog mengenai cabaran keselamatan yang semakin berkembang serta mengenal pasti ruang kerjasama praktikal yang relevan bagi Negara Brunei Darussalam dan rantau Indo-Pasifik yang lebih luas.