History of U.S.-Brunei Relations

Water village, Bandar Seri Begawan

Relations between the United States and Brunei date from the last century. 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.

In December 2002, His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam met with President George W. Bush in the US.  In this first state visit to the US by His Majesty, both leaders further strengthened relations between their two respective countries and agreed to promote cultural exchanges.