The Sultanate was placed 18th in a ranking for the most powerful and influential nations in the Asia-Pacific region compiled by an Australian think tank.
In the Asia Power Index’s 2024 edition, released recently by the Lowy Institute, Brunei scored 10.2 points out of 100, and remain unchanged from a year ago where the Sultanate ranked 18th of 26 for comprehensive power, with an overall score of 10 out of 100.
The analysis evaluates the comprehensive power of 27 countries and territories in the region, using a weighted average across eight measures such as military capability, economic resources, diplomatic influence and cultural influence, which are calculated by 131 indicators.
Ranked 18th out of 27 for comprehensive power, with an overall score of 10.2 out of 100, the Sultanate gained 0.3 points (+3 per cent change) in overall score in 2024. Brunei performs best in the resilience measure, where it was placed 12th, reflecting on its internal stability and favourable but declining energy trade balance.
The Sultanate exerts less influence in the region than expected, given its available resources, as indicated by the country’s negative power gap score.
This year, the country had the greatest gains in resilience (+1.5). It lost the most points in diplomatic influence (−1.5).
Elsewhere, it improved in military capability (+1.3) and cultural influence (+0.8), while trending down in defence networks (−1.0). The scores for economic relationships, future resources and economic capability were unchanged this year.
The top five in the middle power category are: Australia, India, Japan, Russia and South Korea.
Only two in the index are superpowers: China and the United States. – Azlan Othman
