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Brunei maintains diplomatic relations with 170 out of 193 countries, joined ASEAN on 7 January 1984, one week after resuming full independence, and gives its ASEAN membership the highest priority in its foreign relations. Brunei joined the United Nations in September 1984. It is also a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum and the Commonwealth of Nations. Brunei hosted the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in November 2000. In 2005 it attended the inaugural East Asia Summit.
Brunei has a number of diplomatic missions abroad and has close relations with Singapore, sharing an interchangeable currency regime as well as close military relations with the latter island-state. Aside from relations with other ASEAN states, of which the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia are key partners, Brunei also has extensive relations with the Muslim world and the Arab world outside its own region.
Brunei became a member state of the Commonwealth in 1984, [1] ASEAN and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in 1984, [2] the 7th member of the ASEAN-Japan Centre in 1990, [3] the 159th United Nations member on 21 September 1985, [4] a major player in BIMP-EAGA in 1994, [5] and a founding member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1995. [6] Since 2009, Brunei and the Philippines signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that seeks to strengthen the bilateral co-operation of the two countries in the fields of agriculture and farm-related trade and investments. [7]
List of countries which Brunei maintains diplomatic relations with:
# | Country | Date |
---|---|---|
1 | Australia | 1 January 1984 [8] |
2 | Canada | 1 January 1984 [9] |
3 | Chile | 1 January 1984 [10] |
4 | Indonesia | 1 January 1984 [11] |
5 | Malaysia | 1 January 1984 [12] |
6 | Philippines | 1 January 1984 [13] |
7 | Singapore | 1 January 1984 [14] |
8 | South Korea | 1 January 1984 [15] |
9 | Thailand | 1 January 1984 [16] |
10 | Germany | 30 January 1984 [17] |
11 | Nepal | 3 February 1984 [18] |
12 | Pakistan | 9 February 1984 [19] |
13 | United States | 10 March 1984 [20] |
14 | United Kingdom | 14 March 1984 [21] |
15 | Oman | 24 March 1984 [19] |
16 | Maldives | 31 March 1984 [22] |
17 | Japan | 2 April 1984 [19] |
18 | Sri Lanka | 3 April 1984 [23] |
19 | Papua New Guinea | 1 May 1984 [19] |
20 | Egypt | 2 May 1984 [19] |
21 | Belgium | 3 May 1984 [19] |
22 | Bangladesh | 5 May 1984 [19] |
23 | New Zealand | 5 May 1984 [19] |
24 | France | 8 May 1984 [19] |
25 | India | 10 May 1984 [19] |
26 | Brazil | 8 June 1984 [24] |
27 | Turkey | 27 June 1984 [19] |
28 | Spain | June 1984 [25] |
29 | Norway | 12 October 1984 [26] |
30 | Yemen | 28 December 1984 [27] |
31 | Sweden | 1984 [28] |
32 | Switzerland | 1984 [29] |
33 | Jordan | 18 February 1985 [19] |
34 | Netherlands | 27 April 1985 [30] |
35 | Austria | 2 December 1985 [31] |
36 | Greece | 6 May 1986 [31] |
37 | Ireland | 6 May 1986 [31] |
38 | Malta | 15 August 1986 [32] |
39 | Saudi Arabia | 1 July 1987 [19] |
40 | Morocco | 28 May 1988 [19] |
41 | Bahrain | 24 September 1988 [19] |
42 | Finland | 11 November 1988 [33] |
43 | Italy | 2 November 1989 [34] |
44 | Denmark | 6 February 1990 [35] |
45 | Iran | 1 May 1990 [19] |
46 | Iraq | 1 May 1990 [36] |
47 | Kuwait | 1 May 1990 [19] |
48 | Tonga | 1 May 1990 [37] |
49 | Tunisia | 1 May 1990 [38] |
50 | Peru | 1 June 1990 [39] |
51 | Guyana | 20 June 1990 [40] |
52 | Mauritius | 2 July 1990 [41] |
53 | China | 30 September 1991 [42] |
54 | Russia | 1 October 1991 [42] |
55 | Mexico | 2 October 1991 [42] |
56 | Qatar | 2 October 1991 [42] |
57 | Senegal | 25 November 1991 [42] |
58 | Ghana | 10 December 1991 [43] |
59 | Honduras | 20 December 1991 [42] |
60 | Burkina Faso | 21 January 1992 [42] |
61 | Hungary | 21 January 1992 [42] |
62 | Federated States of Micronesia | 23 February 1992 [44] |
63 | Vietnam | 29 February 1992 [19] |
64 | Czech Republic | 2 March 1992 [42] |
65 | Colombia | 24 March 1992 [45] |
66 | Argentina | 24 April 1992 [46] |
67 | Mongolia | 18 May 1992 [47] |
68 | Solomon Islands | 21 May 1992 [42] |
69 | United Arab Emirates | 28 May 1992 [42] |
70 | Cambodia | 9 June 1992 [19] |
71 | San Marino | 10 June 1992 [48] |
72 | Madagascar | 20 October 1992 [42] |
73 | Nigeria | 1 December 1992 [49] |
74 | Laos | 27 July 1993 [19] |
75 | Myanmar | 21 September 1993 [42] |
76 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 25 January 1994 [50] |
77 | Albania | 27 January 1994 [51] |
78 | Benin | 1 March 1994 [52] |
79 | Bulgaria | 14 April 1994 [42] |
80 | Costa Rica | 14 April 1994 [42] |
81 | Romania | 15 April 1994 [42] |
82 | Lebanon | 18 May 1994 [53] |
— | State of Palestine | 3 June 1994 [54] |
83 | Ivory Coast | 3 June 1994 [54] |
84 | Guinea-Bissau | 3 June 1994 [54] |
85 | Zimbabwe | 7 September 1994 [55] |
86 | Uruguay | 19 September 1994 [42] |
87 | Mali | 20 October 1994 [55] |
88 | Algeria | 24 January 1995 [56] |
89 | Sierra Leone | 10 July 1995 [42] |
90 | Azerbaijan | 24 November 1995 [19] |
91 | Marshall Islands | 17 January 1996 [57] |
92 | Kyrgyzstan | 15 March 1996 [42] |
93 | Poland | 20 March 1996 [42] |
94 | Portugal | 22 March 1996 [42] |
95 | Panama | 28 March 1996 [42] |
96 | Paraguay | 8 April 1996 [42] |
97 | Slovakia | 4 June 1996 [42] |
98 | Mozambique | 18 June 1996 [42] |
99 | Uzbekistan | 20 June 1996 [58] |
100 | Namibia | 27 June 1996 [42] |
101 | South Africa | 4 October 1996 [59] |
102 | Cuba | 4 April 1997 [60] |
103 | Slovenia | 28 April 1997 [61] |
104 | Ukraine | 3 October 1997 [42] |
105 | Croatia | 1 May 1998 [42] |
106 | Nicaragua | July 1998 [62] |
107 | Sudan | August 1998 [62] |
108 | North Korea | 7 January 1999 [63] |
109 | Comoros | 16 February 1999 [42] |
110 | Suriname | 22 February 1999 [64] |
111 | Turkmenistan | 22 February 1999 [65] |
112 | Lesotho | 30 March 2000 [66] |
113 | Republic of Congo | 15 May 2000 [42] |
114 | Kazakhstan | 14 June 2000 [42] |
115 | Latvia | 14 July 2000 [67] |
116 | El Salvador | 28 August 2000 [42] |
117 | Tanzania | 6 October 2000 [52] |
118 | Malawi | 11 October 2000 [68] |
119 | Ecuador | 19 March 2001 [42] |
120 | Lithuania | 27 April 2001 [69] |
121 | Armenia | 15 April 2002 [70] |
122 | East Timor | 20 May 2002 [71] |
123 | Belarus | 4 November 2002 [42] |
124 | Togo | 3 December 2002 [72] |
125 | Zambia | 3 February 2003 [42] |
126 | Luxembourg | 18 July 2003 [42] |
127 | Uganda | 21 October 2003 [42] |
128 | Eritrea | 13 May 2004 [42] |
129 | Tajikistan | 2 June 2004 [42] |
130 | Guatemala | 30 June 2004 [42] |
131 | Venezuela | 13 July 2005 [42] |
132 | Samoa | 8 February 2006 [73] |
133 | Iceland | 27 April 2006 [42] |
134 | Estonia | 1 May 2006 [74] |
135 | Angola | 18 October 2006 [42] |
136 | Moldova | 18 October 2006 [42] |
137 | Afghanistan | 14 February 2007 [75] |
138 | North Macedonia | 1 August 2007 [76] |
139 | Kenya | 11 August 2008 [77] |
140 | Grenada | 29 January 2009 [42] |
141 | Trinidad and Tobago | 24 November 2009 [42] |
142 | Antigua and Barbuda | 21 December 2009 [42] |
143 | Montenegro | 18 January 2010 [42] |
144 | Georgia | 1 March 2010 [42] |
145 | Dominican Republic | 10 August 2010 [78] |
146 | Fiji | 25 April 2011 [42] |
147 | Andorra | 16 June 2011 [42] |
148 | Jamaica | 20 June 2011 [42] |
149 | Monaco | 22 June 2011 [79] |
150 | Liechtenstein | 25 November 2011 [80] |
151 | Serbia | 5 December 2011 [42] |
152 | Palau | 16 December 2011 [81] |
153 | Djibouti | 9 November 2012 [82] |
154 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 27 May 2015 [42] |
155 | Gambia | 21 January 2016 [83] |
156 | Kiribati | 26 January 2016 [84] |
157 | Bahamas | 21 November 2016 [42] |
— | Kosovo | 20 February 2017 [85] |
158 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 21 February 2017 [42] |
159 | Dominica | 22 January 2020 [42] |
160 | Rwanda | 9 December 2020 [42] |
161 | Chad | Unknown |
162 | Cyprus | Unknown |
163 | Eswatini | Unknown |
164 | Gabon | Unknown |
165 | Guinea | Unknown |
166 | Mauritania | Unknown |
167 | Niger | Unknown |
168 | Libya | Unknown |
169 | Seychelles | Unknown |
170 | Syria | Unknown |
Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
---|---|---|
Australia | 1 January 1984 | Australia and Brunei Darussalam enjoy a warm, and increasingly diverse bilateral relationship. Australian servicemen liberated Brunei from Japanese occupation in June 1945. A memorial marking this event can be found at Muara Beach and is the venue for the annual ANZAC Day ceremony organised by the High Commission. Both countries are also participating in the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations which commenced in 2010, with participants aiming to conclude an agreement which will serve as a building block for Asia Pacific economic integration. Brunei has a High Commission in Canberra, and Australia has one in Bandar Seri Begawan. [86] Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations. Relations between the two countries were established in 1984 when Australia became one of the first countries to establish diplomatic ties with Brunei. [86] [87] [88] |
Cambodia | 9 June 1992 | Brunei has an embassy in Phnom Penh, and Cambodia has an embassy in Bandar Seri Begawan. [89] Relations were established on 9 June 1992. [89] |
Canada | 1 January 1984 | Canada established diplomatic relations with Brunei Darussalam on 7 May 1984, following Brunei's independence. [90] [91] Brunei has a High Commission in Ottawa, and Canada has a High Commission in Bandar Seri Begawan. [91] Like Brunei, Canada is a full member of the Commonwealth of Nations.. |
China | 30 September 1991 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 30 September 1991 Brunei has an embassy in Beijing, and China has an embassy in Bandar Seri Begawan. [92] Relations can be traced back to over 2,000 years ago, as early as the Western Han periods. [93] |
France | 8 May 1984 | Brunei has an embassy in Paris, and France has an embassy in Bandar Seri Begawan. [94] Relations between the two countries have been established since 8 May 1984. [94] |
Germany | 30 January 1984 | Brunei has an embassy in Berlin, and Germany has an embassy in Bandar Seri Begawan. [95] Relations between the two countries has been established since 1 May 1984. [95] [96] |
India | 10 May 1984 | Brunei has a High Commission in New Delhi, and India has a High Commission in Bandar Seri Begawan. [97] Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations. Relations have been established since 10 May 1984. [97] |
Indonesia | 1 January 1984 | Republic of Indonesia established diplomatic relations with Brunei Darussalam on 1 January 1984. [98] |
Iran | 1 May 1990 | |
Japan | 2 April 1984 | Brunei has an embassy in Tokyo, and Japan has an embassy in Bandar Seri Begawan. [99] Relations were established on 2 April 1984. [99] |
Laos | 27 July 1993 | Brunei has an embassy in Vientiane, and Laos has an embassy in Bandar Seri Begawan. [100] Relations were established on 27 July 1993. [100] |
Malaysia | 1 January 1984 | Both countries established diplomatic relations since January 1984 with Brunei has a High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, and Malaysia has a High Commission in Bandar Seri Begawan. [101] Like Brunei, Malaysia is a full member of the Commonwealth of Nations. |
Mexico | 2 October 1991 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 2 October 1991 |
Myanmar | 21 September 1993 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 21 September 1993 Brunei has an embassy in Yangon, and Myanmar has an embassy in Gadong. [104] Relations were established on 21 September 1993. [104] |
New Zealand | 5 May 1984 | The Bruneian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur is accredited to New Zealand, while the New Zealand High Commission in Kuala Lumpur is cross-accredited to Brunei. [105] Relations has been established since 5 May 1984 and have always been friendly and positive with such co-operation in education trade and defence. [106] |
North Korea | 7 January 1999 | In August 2013 Brunei's Foreign Affairs and Vice-Minister, Prince Mohamed Bolkiah arrived in Pyongyang. Brunei is represented in North Korea, through its embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. North Korea established diplomatic relations with Brunei on 7 January 1999. [107] |
Oman | 24 March 1984 | Brunei has an embassy in Muscat, and Oman has an embassy in Bandar Seri Begawan. [108] Relations has been established since 24 March 1984. [108] |
Pakistan | 9 February 1984 | Pakistan has a High Commission in Bandar Seri Begawan and Brunei has a High Commission in Islamabad. Pakistan initially hesitated to recognise the country at first since its close relations with Malaysia which what they considered as part of the Federation of Malaysia but later established relations on 9 February 1984 when Malaysia established relations with the country. [109] |
Philippines | 1 January 1984 | Relations between Brunei and the natives of a then divided Philippines under a classical era started since the 10th to 13th centuries and continued even under the colonial regimes. Relations continued through the Sultanate of Sulu. Post World War II relations between the two countries has been re-established since January 1984. [110] In April 2009, Brunei and The Philippines signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that seeks to strengthen the bilateral co-operation of the two countries in the fields of agriculture and farm-related trade and investments. [111] The MOU further strengthened bilateral co-operation between the two Southeast Asian countries, particularly in the fields of agriculture and farm-related trade and investments. [112] The two countries have agreed to co-operate in plant science, crops technology, vegetable and fruit preservation, biotechnology, post-harvest technology, livestock, organic agriculture, irrigation and water resources and Halal industry. Brunei is viewed by the Philippines as a key ASEAN and Islamic ally. While Brunei view the Philippines as an ASEAN and Christian ally with a Muslim minority. [113] |
Qatar | 2 October 1991 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 2 October 1991 Brunei has an embassy in Doha, and Qatar has an embassy in Bandar Seri Begawan. [114] |
Russia | 1 October 1991 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 October 1991 Brunei maintains an embassy in Moscow, the Russian embassy in Brunei was established in March 2010. |
Singapore | 1 January 1984 | The official relations between the two countries have been established since 1984. [115] Brunei and Singapore agreed to have Singapore train its armed forces with Brunei. Like Brunei, Singapore is a full member of the Commonwealth of Nations. Brunei and Singapore have a currency agreement that the currencies of both countries can be used in either of the two countries. The Brunei dollar and the Singapore dollar are maintained at par. In August 2005, Brunei's Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister, Prince Mohamed Bolkiah arrived in Singapore for a three-day visit during which the two countries signed an agreement to eliminate double taxation, paving the way for further bilateral trade and investment. [116] The Royal Brunei Navy and the Republic of Singapore Navy conduct an annual Exercise Pelican signifying strong ties between the two navies. |
South Korea | 1 January 1984 | Brunei has an embassy in Seoul, and South Korea has an embassy in Bandar Seri Begawan. [117] South Korea established diplomatic relations with Brunei on 1 June 1984 right after the country gained independence from the United Kingdom on 1 January on that year. [117] [118] |
Thailand | 1 January 1984 | Brunei has an embassy in Bangkok, and Thailand has an embassy in Bandar Seri Begawan. [119] The relations have always been close and cordial. [120] |
United Kingdom | In 1888, Brunei became a British protectorate, gaining its independence from British protection less than 100 years later in 1984. The UK and Brunei have a long-standing and strong bilateral relationship, particularly on defence co-operation, trade and education. The UK continues to play a strong role in developing Brunei's oil and gas sector, and the Brunei Investment Agency is a significant investor in the UK, with their largest overseas operations in the City of London. The UK remains the destination of choice for Bruneian students, with about 1,220 of them enrolled in higher education in the UK in 2006–07. The Brunei royal family have strong ties to the UK, more specifically 'Birchwood' a suburb of Warrington. The United Kingdom has a High Commission in Bandar Seri Begawan, and Brunei has a High Commission in London. [121] Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations. | |
United States | 10 March 1984 | The US welcomed Brunei Darussalam's full independence from the United Kingdom on 1 January 1984, and opened an embassy in Bandar Seri Begawan on that date. Brunei opened its embassy in Washington, D.C. in March 1984. Brunei's armed forces engage in joint exercises, training programs, and other military co-operation with the USA memorandum of understanding on defence co-operation was signed on 29 November 1994. The Sultan of Brunei visited Washington in December 2002. |
Vietnam | 29 February 1992 | Relations between the two countries have been established since 29 February 1992. [122] Brunei has an embassy in Hanoi, and Vietnam has an embassy in Bandar Seri Begawan. [122] Relations between the two countries have always been friendly especially in the political field. [123] |
As one of the oldest Euro-Atlantic member states in the region of Southeast Europe, Greece enjoys a prominent geopolitical role as a middle power, due to its political and geographical proximity to Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Its main allies are the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Cyprus and the rest of the European Union and NATO.
The foreign relations of Ireland are substantially influenced by its membership of the European Union, although bilateral relations with the United States and United Kingdom are also important to the state. It is one of the group of smaller nations in the EU and has traditionally followed a non-aligned foreign policy. Ireland has historically tended towards independence in foreign military policy, thus it is not a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and has a longstanding policy of military neutrality.
The foreign relations of Japan are handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.
Lesotho's geographic location makes it extremely vulnerable to political and economic developments in South Africa. Its capital is the small city of Maseru. It is a member of many regional economic organizations including the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). Lesotho also is active in the United Nations, the Organisation of African Unity, now the African Union, the Non-Aligned Movement, and many other international organizations. In addition to the Republic of Korea, the United States, South Africa, Ireland, People's Republic of China, Libya, and the European Union all currently retain resident diplomatic missions in Lesotho. Foreign relations of Lesotho are administered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations.
Malaysia is an active member of various international organisations, including the Commonwealth of Nations, the United Nations, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and the Non-Aligned Movement. It has also in recent times been an active proponent of regional co-operation.
The Islamic Republic of Pakistan emerged as an independent country through the partition of India in August 1947 and was admitted as a United Nations member state in September 1947. It is currently the second-largest country within the Muslim world in terms of population, and is also the only Muslim-majority country in possession of nuclear weapons. De facto, the country shares direct land borders with India, Iran, Afghanistan, and China.
The foreign relations of Thailand are handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, formerly known as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT), is the cabinet-level ministry in the government of Brunei which is responsible for handling Brunei's external relations, the management of its international diplomatic missions and the nation's foreign trade policy. It was established immediately upon Brunei's independence on 1 January 1984. It is currently led by a minister and a second minister, in which the incumbents are Hassanal Bolkiah, the Sultan of Brunei, and Erywan Yusof respectively. The ministry is headquartered in Bandar Seri Begawan.
Brunei and Cambodia established diplomatic relations in 1992. Brunei has an embassy in Phnom Penh, and Cambodia has an embassy in Bandar Seri Begawan. Both countries co-operate in trade, education and defence. Both countries are members of ASEAN.
Brunei and Laos established diplomatic relations in 1993. Brunei has an embassy in Vientiane, and Laos has an embassy in Bandar Seri Begawan. Both countries co-operate in trade, education and defence.
Brunei and Thailand have bilateral foreign relations. Brunei has an embassy in Bangkok, and Thailand has an embassy in Bandar Seri Begawan. The relations have always been close and cordial.
Brunei–Japan relations refers to bilateral foreign relations between Brunei and Japan. Brunei has an embassy in Tokyo, and Japan has an embassy in Bandar Seri Begawan.
Brunei and India established diplomatic relations in 1984. Brunei has a high commission in New Delhi, and India has a high commission in Bandar Seri Begawan. Both countries are members of the Non-Aligned Movement and the Commonwealth of Nations.
Australia and Brunei established diplomatic relations in 1984. Australia has a high commission in Bandar Seri Begawan, and Brunei has a high commission in Canberra.
Dato Seri Setia Haji Nazmi bin Haji Mohamad is a politician and civil servant who hold the position of Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports since 2022.
Tan Bee Yong is a retired Bruneian Chinese civil servant and diplomat in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT). She has been previously appointed to serve as the non-resident ambassador and high commissioner to several nations.
Kamilah binti Haji Mohd Hanifah is a Bruneian diplomat who became the ambassador to Japan since 2017, and the former consul general in Hong Kong.
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