Washington, DC - A delegation of senior U.S. officials, including Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Tom Malinowski, Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Craig Allen, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Scot Marciel, and Special Representative to Muslim Communities Shaarik Zafar, participated in the U.S.-Brunei High Level Officials Meeting in London, United Kingdom, on November 30, 2015.
The U.S. delegation met with senior Bruneian ministers to discuss how the United States and Brunei Darussalam can further enhance their bilateral relationship covering security and defense, trade and economics, and regional cooperation.
The two countries discussed enhancing security ties, increasing military-to-military cooperation, and advancing a rules-based order to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea. On human rights, U.S. officials urged Brunei to protect the rights of all its citizens. Bruneian officials emphasized that Bruneian law would be implemented in accordance with international human rights standards. Both countries agreed to find ways to increase the number of students from Brunei studying in the United States.