Foreign Relations of Brunei with other countries have gone through various stages during the past. The country of Brunei has developed friendly relations with all its neighboring countries and maintains a cordial relationship with all major powerful nations.
Foreign Relations of Brunei have improved after gaining independence in 1984 from the status of being a British protectorate. Brunei is a member of various world organizations including the following ones:
- Association of Southeast Asian Nations
- United Nations
- Organization of the Islamic Conference
- Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum
During the phase of being a British protectorate, Brunei did not have amicable relationship with UK. But the achievement of independence has led to the subsequent betterment of relationship between UK and Brunei. The relation of Brunei with USA was cordial and friendly from the beginning and continues to be so.
The countries of Malaysia and Indonesia did not have friendly relations with Brunei initially. The bone of contention between the countries was a dispute centering around land. However, the relations of Brunei improved with time and as members of ASEAN, the three countries share a friendship worth noticing.
The regular visits of the Sultan of Brunei to different countries has led to the improvement of foreign relations of Brunei. The various agreements like the plan to produce defense equipments between Brunei and Malaysia and the joint commission to discuss cooperation in matters of defense between UK and Brunei have also accentuated the development of amicable foreign relations of Brunei.
