FOREIGN
RELATIONS
Brunei joined ASEAN on January 7, 1984--one week after resuming full independence--and gives its ASEAN membership the highest priority in its foreign relations. Brunei joined the UN in September 1984. It also is a member of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. Brunei hosted the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in November 2000 and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in July 2002.
U.S.-BRUNEI
RELATIONS
Relations between the United States and Brunei date from the 1800s.
On April 6, 1845, the U.S.S. Constitution visited Brunei. The
two countries concluded a Treaty of Peace, Friendship, Commerce
and Navigation in 1850, which remains in force today. The United
States maintained a consulate in Brunei from 1865 to 1867.
The U.S.
welcomed Brunei Darussalam's full independence from the United
Kingdom on January 1, 1984, and opened an Embassy in Bandar Seri
Begawan on that date. Brunei opened its embassy in Washington
in March 1984. Brunei's armed forces engage in joint exercises,
training programs, and other military cooperation with the U.S.
A memorandum of understanding on defense cooperation was signed
on November 29, 1994. The Sultan visited Washington in December
2002.
DEFENSE
The Sultan is both Minister of Defense and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces (RBAF). All infantry, navy, and air combat units are made up of volunteers. There are two infantry battalions equipped with armored reconnaissance vehicles and armored personnel carriers and supported by Rapier air defense missiles and a flotilla of coastal patrol vessels armed with surface-to-surface missiles. Brunei ordered three offshore patrol vessels from the U.K. but is reportedly seeking to sell these to a third country. Brunei has ordered an unconfirmed number of smaller patrol vessels to replace its aging fleet.
Brunei has a defense agreement with the United Kingdom, under which a British Armed Forces Ghurka battalion (1,500 men) is permanently stationed in Seria, near the center of Brunei's oil industry. The RBAF has joint exercises, training programs, and other military cooperation with the United Kingdom and many other countries, including the United States. The U.S. and Brunei signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on defense cooperation in November 1994. The two countries conduct an annual military exercise called CARAT.
Principal U.S. Embassy Officials
Ambassador--Emil Skodon
Deputy Chief of Mission--Justin Friedman
Management Officer--Terry Murphree
The U.S. Embassy in Bandar Seri Begawan is located on the third & fifth floors of the Teck Guan Plaza, at the corner of Jalan Sultan and Jalan MacArthur; tel: 673-2229670; fax: 673-2225293; e-mail: usembassy_bsb@state.gov
