The Commonwealth And Brunei: A Current Membership Perspective

Brunei, officially known as Brunei Darussalam, is a small equatorial country located on the northern coast of the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. It has been a member of the Commonwealth since 1984, following its independence from Britain. Brunei's economy has traditionally relied on the petroleum, natural gas, and timber industries, and the country has faced economic challenges due to low oil prices since 2013. The country has also faced international criticism and calls for its suspension from the Commonwealth due to the introduction of strict Sharia laws.

Brunei joined the Commonwealth in 1984

Brunei's history is marked by colonial powers vying for control over its territory and resources. In the 19th century, the Bruneian Empire began to decline, and the Sultanate ceded land to James Brooke, who became known as the White Rajah of Sarawak. Over time, Brooke and his successors leased or annexed more land, reducing Brunei to its current size.

In 1888, facing further encroachment, the Sultanate of Brunei signed the "Treaty of Protection" with Britain, becoming a British protectorate. However, this did not prevent the Brookes from continuing to annex Bruneian territory. This dynamic led to growing dissatisfaction among the Bruneian ruling class, and in 1903, Sultan Hashim even considered transferring Brunei to the rule of the Ottoman Empire.

During World War II, Brunei was occupied by Japanese forces from 1941 to 1945. After the war, the country was placed under British Military Administration until July 1946, when civilian governance was reinstated.

In the post-war years, Brunei's struggle for independence continued amid conflicts with the British over administrative control. In 1959, a new constitution was written, declaring Brunei a self-governing state while keeping foreign affairs, security, and defence under British responsibility.

Finally, on 1 January 1984, Brunei gained its independence from the United Kingdom and joined the Commonwealth of Nations. The country has since utilised its Commonwealth membership to strengthen its economy and diversify away from the oil and gas sectors. Brunei has also prioritised improving relations with other Commonwealth countries and participated in various Commonwealth programmes and meetings.

Brunei is a small equatorial country in Southeast Asia

Brunei, officially Brunei Darussalam, is a small equatorial country in Southeast Asia. It is situated on the northern coast of the island of Borneo and has a coastline along the South China Sea. The country is enclosed by the Malaysian state of Sarawak, which divides it into two parts, with the larger portion lying in the west. Brunei is the only sovereign state that is entirely on Borneo, with the rest of the island divided between Malaysia and Indonesia.

The terrain of Brunei consists of a flat coastal plain that rises to mountains in the east and hilly lowlands in the west. The country has a tropical climate with high humidity, and the entire nation typically experiences the same weather conditions. The climate is influenced by monsoon winds and other wind systems brought about by air pressure distribution in Southeast Asia and its location on the equatorial tropics of Borneo's northwest coast.

Brunei has a total area of 5,765 square kilometres (2,226 square miles), with a population of approximately 455,858 as of 2023. The official language of Brunei is Malay, and Islam is the state religion, although other religions are tolerated. The government of Brunei is a constitutional absolute monarchy ruled by the Sultan, currently Hassanal Bolkiah, who has led the country since 1967. The country's wealth is derived from its extensive petroleum and natural gas fields, and it has a high ranking on the Human Development Index.

Brunei gained its independence from the United Kingdom on 1 January 1984 and became a member of the Commonwealth of Nations in the same year. It places great value on its membership and has benefited from the Commonwealth's programmes, particularly in diversifying its economy away from oil and gas. Brunei also participates in Commonwealth initiatives such as the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan and the Commonwealth Games.

The country is enclosed by the Malaysian state of Sarawak

Brunei is a small equatorial country on the northern coast of the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. The country is enclosed by the Malaysian state of Sarawak, which divides it in two. The larger part of the country lies to the west, with both parts having a northern coastline on the South China Sea.

Sarawak is the largest of the 13 states of Malaysia, with an area almost equal to that of Peninsular Malaysia. It is located in East Malaysia in northwest Borneo and is ethnically, culturally, religiously, and linguistically diverse. Sarawak is the only Malaysian state with a Christian majority.

Sarawak has a tropical geography with an equatorial climate and experiences two monsoon seasons: a northeast monsoon and a southwest monsoon. The state is covered by primary rainforests and has several prominent cave systems at Gunung Mulu National Park.

Sarawak is abundant in natural resources and has a largely agricultural economy, with exports including petroleum products, timber, and rubber. The state's gross domestic product (GDP) has grown significantly, and it is the third-largest contributor to Malaysia's GDP.

The population of Sarawak as of 2020 was 2.453 million, with urban populations consisting predominantly of Malays, Melanaus, Chinese, and a small number of Ibans and Bidayuhs.

Sarawak is nicknamed the ""Land of the Hornbills", as these birds are important cultural symbols for the Dayak people and are believed to bring good luck. The state has a diverse range of ethnicities, with six major ethnic groups: Iban, Chinese, Malay, Bidayuh, Melanau, and Orang Ulu.

Sarawak has a unique history, having been a part of the Bruneian Empire in the 16th century and later governed by the Brooke family, also known as the White Rajahs. In 1963, Sarawak achieved self-government and became one of the founding members of Malaysia.

Brunei's prosperity depends on its natural resources of petroleum, natural gas and timber

Brunei is a small, equatorial country on the northern coast of the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. It is covered by forest and has a wealth of natural resources, including petroleum, natural gas, and timber. These resources have been the key to the country's prosperity, with the energy sector contributing 64.7% of the country's GDP in 2022.

Brunei's history with oil and gas goes back to 1899 when the first exploration well was drilled near the capital, Brunei Town. However, it was the discovery of the Seria field in the Belait District in 1929 that marked the beginning of the country's oil industry. Since then, Brunei has become the third-largest oil producer in Southeast Asia, with a daily average production of 180,000 barrels. Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP) is the largest oil producer in the country, contributing around 90% of its oil and gas revenues.

The country's natural gas industry also has its roots in the 1960s when large deposits were discovered. Intensive exploitation of these deposits in the 1970s led to the construction of a liquefaction plant, making liquefied natural gas (LNG) a major source of export earnings. Brunei is now the ninth-largest producer of LNG in the world, with the majority being sold to Japan under a long-term agreement.

While the petroleum industry has brought significant wealth to Brunei, allowing the government to provide free medical services and education through to the university level, it has also made the country dependent on a single commodity. Low oil prices since 2013 have led to budget deficits and weakened economic growth. Recognizing this vulnerability, the government has been working to diversify the economy by developing sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, tourism, and financial services.

In addition to its petroleum and natural gas resources, Brunei also has a significant timber industry. With an emphasis on preserving the country's abundant forest cover, Brunei enacted legislation in the late 20th century to restrict logging. Plantation programs provide enough sawed wood for the local market, but timber is not exported.

Brunei has participated in the Commonwealth Games since 1990

Brunei, or Brunei Darussalam, is a small equatorial country on the northern coast of the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. It is a member of the Commonwealth and has been since 1984, the year it gained independence from Britain.

Since its first participation in the Commonwealth Games, Brunei has competed nine times and remains unranked on the all-time medal tally, having never won a medal.

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