First Female British High Commissioner to Brunei and the 40

This year, 2024, Brunei and the United Kingdom are celebrating the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations. The bond between the two kingdoms was formally established on 1 January 1984. As a members of the Commonwealth of Nations, Brunei and the UK exchange High Commissioner rather than Ambassador. Yet the official High Commission to Brunei was started right after the 1959 Brunei Constitution, making Sir Dennis Charles White served as the first British High Commissioner to Brunei, and vice versa Pengiran Jaya bin Pengiran Haji Rajid was the first Brunei High Commissioner to the UK started from 1984.

Over four decades of friendship, both kingdoms shared a very deep sense of cooperation, culminating in the initiation of the Strategic Dialogue in November 2021. Brunei holds a unique position as a special friend to the UK, offering more than just trade; it provides a strategic location essential for the UK’s maritime security stance. Notably, as the first ASEAN Country Coordinator for the UK following its membership as Dialogue Partner- which coincided with Brunei’s Chairmanship- Brunei garnered significant recognition and appreciation from the UK.

Recently, the appointment of Alexandra McKenzie as the first female British High Commissioner to Brunei will mark a new chapter in the relations between the two nations. High Commissioner Alexandra was footed in Southeast Asia twice back in the past as second person of both embassies in Singapore and Bangkok. High Commissioner Alexandra had presented a letter of credentials to His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah ibni Omar Ali Saifuddien III on August 18 at the palace. As of now, female Head of Mission are at 55% of the UK’s Indo-Pacific leadership, given a new signal toward the empowerment of women.

Thoughts

Under the new steer of Labour, the UK and Brunei are poised to enhance their partnership on economic development, climate change, and women’s empowerment, with a particularly focus on strengthen defence cooperation. The strategic positioning of Brunei near to key regional choke-points aligns seamlessly with the UK’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, making it a pivotal ally in the area. Aligning with the ASEAN-UK Plan of Actions (2022-2026) and new Labour leadership, the UK aims to reconnect with the world, yet it is expected that the UK may focus on injecting soft power rather than hard power in the Southeast Asia context. ASEAN remain a key focus for the UK as it is the heart of the Indo-Pacific and home to many historically rooted defence cooperation with the UK, and trade zone within the CPTPP.

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