Editing Brunei (section)

=== Foreign relations ===
{{Main|Foreign relations of Brunei}}
[[File:Pres. Obama and HM Bolkiah APEC 2015.jpg|thumb|Brunei's Sultan and Foreign Minister [[Hassanal Bolkiah]] meets with U.S. President [[Barack Obama]], 18 November 2015.]]
[[File:Keroncong Kemayoran di Perayaan 50 Tahun Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Bertakhta (2c).jpg|thumb|Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah with Indonesian President [[Joko Widodo]], 6 October 2017]]
Until 1979, Brunei's foreign relations were managed by the UK government. After that, they were handled by the Brunei Diplomatic Service. After independence in 1984, this Service was upgraded to ministerial level and is now known as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mofat.gov.bn/index.php/the-ministry/about-us |title=About Us |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs |access-date=20 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017191316/https://www.mofat.gov.bn/index.php/the-ministry/about-us |archive-date=17 October 2013 |df=dmy }}</ref>

Officially, Brunei's foreign policy is as follows:<ref>{{cite book|last=Ministry of Education|title=History for Brunei Darussalam|year=2008|publisher=EBP Pan Pacific|isbn=978-9991725451|page=104}}<!--|access-date=20 November 2013--></ref>
* Mutual respect of others' territorial sovereignty, integrity and independence;
* The maintenance of friendly relations among nations;
* Non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries; and
* The maintenance and the promotion of peace, security and stability in the region.

With its traditional ties with the United Kingdom, Brunei became the 49th member of the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] immediately on the day of its independence on 1 January 1984.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.mfa.gov.bn/foreignpolicy/commonwealth.htm| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100128232720/http://www.mfa.gov.bn/foreignpolicy/commonwealth.htm| archive-date=28 January 2010 |title=MOFAT, Commonwealth| date=30 March 2010| publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Brunei Darussalam}}</ref> As one of its first initiatives toward improved regional relations, Brunei joined [[ASEAN]] on 7 January 1984, becoming the sixth member. To achieve recognition of its sovereignty and independence, it joined the [[United Nations]] as a full member on 21 September of that same year.<ref>{{cite web |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080218170858/http://www.mfa.gov.bn/foreignpolicy/unitednation.htm |archive-date=18 February 2008 |title= MOFAT, UN |date=30 March 2010 |publisher= Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Brunei Darussalam |url= http://www.mfa.gov.bn/foreignpolicy/unitednation.htm }}</ref>

As an Islamic country, Brunei became a full member of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (now the [[Organisation of Islamic Cooperation]]) in January 1984 at the Fourth Islamic Summit held in [[Morocco]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.mfa.gov.bn/foreignpolicy/oic.htm |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080618090110/http://www.mfa.gov.bn/foreignpolicy/oic.htm| archive-date= 18 June 2008 |title=MOFAT, OIC| date=30 March 2010 |publisher= Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Brunei Darussalam}}</ref>

After its accession to the [[Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation]] forum (APEC) in 1989, Brunei hosted the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in November 2000 and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in July 2002.<ref name="APEC_2000">{{cite web| url=http://www.apec.org/apec/leaders__declarations/2000.html| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100321170443/http://www.apec.org/apec/leaders__declarations/2000.html| archive-date=21 March 2010 | title=APEC, 2000 Leaders' Declaration| date=30 March 2010| publisher=Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation}}</ref> Brunei became a founding member of the [[World Trade Organization]] (WTO) on 1 January 1995,<ref name="WTO_2008">{{cite web| url=http://www.mfa.gov.bn/economytrade/wto.htm| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080625053100/http://www.mfa.gov.bn/economytrade/wto.htm| archive-date=25 June 2008 | title=MOFAT, WTO| date=30 March 2010| publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade}}</ref> and is a major player in [[BIMP-EAGA]], which was formed during the Inaugural Ministers' Meeting in [[Davao City|Davao]], [[Philippines]], on 24 March 1994.<ref name="BIMP_1994">{{cite web| url=http://www.mfa.gov.bn/economytrade/bimpeaga.htm| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080621071516/http://www.mfa.gov.bn/economytrade/bimpeaga.htm| archive-date=21 June 2008 | title=MOFAT, BIMP-EAGA| date=30 March 2010| publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade}}</ref>

Brunei shares a close relationship with [[Singapore]] and the Philippines. In April 2009, Brunei and the Philippines signed a [[Memorandum of Understanding]] (MOU) that seeks to strengthen the bilateral cooperation of the two countries in the fields of agriculture and farm-related trade and investments.<ref>Marvyn N. Benaning (29 April 2009) [http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/204239/rp-brunei-seal-agri-cooperation-deal RP, "Brunei seal agri cooperation deal"]{{dead link|date=October 2013}}, ''Manila Bulletin''</ref>

Brunei is one of many nations to lay claim to some of the disputed [[Spratly Islands]].<ref name=dispute /> The status of [[Limbang]] as part of Sarawak has been disputed by Brunei since the area was first annexed in 1890.<ref name=dispute>{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2070.html |title=Disputes – International |publisher=CIA |access-date=4 January 2011 |archive-date=14 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514215411/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2070.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The issue was reportedly settled in 2009, with Brunei agreeing to accept the border in exchange for Malaysia giving up claims to oil fields in Bruneian waters.<ref name="bt">{{cite news|url=http://www.bt.com.bn/home_news/2009/03/17/brunei_drops_all_claims_to_limbang |title=Brunei drops all claims to Limbang |newspaper=Brunei Times |access-date=17 December 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140712162447/http://www.bt.com.bn/home_news/2009/03/17/brunei_drops_all_claims_to_limbang |archive-date=12 July 2014 |df=dmy }}</ref> The Brunei government denies this and says that their claim on Limbang was never dropped.<ref>{{cite web|title=Brunei Denies Limbang Story|author=Azlan Othman|url=http://www.sultanate.com/news_server/2009/18_mar_1.html|access-date=19 December 2011|archive-date=26 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426062141/http://www.sultanate.com/news_server/2009/18_mar_1.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mysinchew.com/node/22340?tid=14|date=19 March 2009|title=Brunei Denies Limbang Story|access-date=19 December 2011|work=MySinchew|archive-date=13 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113080644/http://www.mysinchew.com/node/22340?tid=14|url-status=live}}</ref>

Brunei was the chair for [[ASEAN]] in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cogitasia.com/bruneis-asean-chairmanship-scorecard/|title=Brunei's ASEAN Chairmanship Scorecard|last=State Department|first=United States|publisher=cogitASIA CSIS Asia Policy Blog|access-date=17 December 2013|archive-date=17 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217060654/http://cogitasia.com/bruneis-asean-chairmanship-scorecard/|url-status=live}}</ref> It also hosted the ASEAN summit on that same year.<ref name="RA">{{cite web|url=http://rano360.com/ranoadidas2/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=470:brunei-to-host-asean-summit-2013&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50|title=Brunei to host ASEAN Summit 2013|author=Rano Iskandar|access-date=17 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140430091544/http://rano360.com/ranoadidas2/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=470:brunei-to-host-asean-summit-2013&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50|archive-date=30 April 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>