By: Nihal Chauhan
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Southeast Asia was intended to reaffirm his country’s commitment to the region. By visiting Singapore and Brunei within the first hundred days of his third term, Modi intended to reinvigorate India’s diplomatic engagement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the broader Indo-Pacific region. Modi’s fifth visit to Singapore as prime minister was also an opportunity to engage with Singapore’s newly appointed prime minister, Lawrence Wong, and the two leaders elevated their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
During the visit, the two leaders signed four Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), covering cooperation in semiconductors, digital technologies, skill development, and healthcare. They focused on advancing partnerships in key sectors such as semiconductor manufacturing, cybersecurity, 5G networks, supercomputing, and artificial intelligence — areas of strategic importance to both nations. By strengthening economic and strategic relations, India and Singapore are expanding their options while creating a foundation for navigating the complexities of the Indo-Pacific. The India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable, which laid the groundwork for discussions between Modi and Wong, gathered top officials from both nations, reaffirming the importance of India-ASEAN relations.
Singapore remains a vital economic partner for India. It is India’s largest trading partner among ASEAN nations, ranking sixth globally and accounting for 3.2% of India’s overall trade. Additionally, Singapore is the top source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into India and hosts a sizable Indian community, comprising about 9% of Singapore’s population. Singapore also serves as an economic gateway for Indian companies expanding into ASEAN. Its strategic location along major global shipping routes makes it crucial to India’s “Act East” policy. Singaporean firms present significant opportunities for investment in India’s economy and infrastructure.
The relationship is also of significant strategic importance to both countries. Defense cooperation, particularly in maritime security, is a cornerstone of this partnership. The two nations have deepened military collaboration through the Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX), India’s longest-running naval exercise with any country. Singapore’s Armed Forces (SAF) have also been granted access to Indian military facilities for training purposes, with SAF being the only military to have bilateral agreements with India for all of its service arms. Beyond defense, the two nations have expanded their partnership in space exploration. In 2023, India's space agency (ISRO) launched more than seven Singaporean satellites, paving the way for further collaboration in this critical sector.
Both leaders stressed the importance of peaceful resolutions to disputes in the South China Sea and emphasized maintaining peace, security, and "freedom of navigation" and overflight under international law, specifically the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Although some analysts have speculated that India’s recent focus on the Gulf might signal a shift away from ASEAN, Southeast Asia continues to be a key pillar of India’s strategic focus. With an emphasis on sectors like semiconductor manufacturing, green technologies, and digital payments, Modi’s visit signals a new era of collaboration between India and Singapore, and with Southeast Asia writ large. This renewed engagement presents new partnership opportunities for countries in the region seeking to expand economic and multilateral cooperation with India, including support with addressing challenges emanating from a rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape.
Nihal Chauhan is a Non-Resident Fellow at ORF America.