Foreign Minister II Visits Washington
On an official visit to Washington D.C., Bruneian Foreign Minister II (MOF II) Dato Erywan Yusof met with Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell on April 4. This bilateral meeting holds extra significance, as this year is the 40th anniversary of U.S.-Brunei diplomatic relations. The two nations have enjoyed substantive engagement since Brunei’s independence in 1984 and work together in a variety of sectors to include security, financial services, and travel and tourism.
Most notably, the two officials announced plans to elevate diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Brunei to a Strategic Partnership, following an emerging pattern of the United States’ deepening ties in ASEAN at large. This upgrade will lead to more cooperation on issues regarding cybersecurity, digitalization, and overall making more space for U.S. companies to operate in Brunei’s economic landscape. The MOF II and Deputy Secretary also expressed their commitment to a future of shared values, with a special emphasis on partnership in addressing the humanitarian needs in Gaza.