The Embassy of the United States of America in Brunei Darussalam hosted a celebration of the 246th Independence Day of the United States on June 15. The event was held at the official residence of U.S. Ambassador Caryn McClelland.
The Independence Day reception was attended by the Minister of Health, The Honorable Dato Seri Setia Doctor Haji Mohammed Isham bin Haji Jaafar, as the Guest of Honor, as well as Bruneian government officials, business executives, civil society leaders and other invited guests. In her opening remarks, Ambassador McClelland mentioned the success of the recent U.S.-ASEAN Special Summit and lauded growing U.S.-Brunei cooperation in a host of areas, ranging from enhancing regional security to combatting climate change to strengthening people-to-people connections through professional and academic exchange programs.
“The United States and Brunei are partnering in more ways than ever before,” Ambassador McClelland noted. “The pandemic forced us to be more creative about how we collaborate to solve mutual challenges, but it never diminished our resolve to work together for the betterment of our countries and the Indo-Pacific region.”
She also reiterated the Biden Administration’s commitment to enhance U.S. relations with its regional partners to support post-pandemic recovery, strengthen economic ties, promote environmental sustainability and maritime cooperation, and improve people-to-people connectivity.
Ambassador McClelland presented The Honorable Dato Dr. Haji Mohammed Isham with a deluxe set of U.S.-made BBQ tools – in keeping with the American backyard BBQ theme of the event — as a token of appreciation.
U.S. exchange program alumni Aisyah Zulkarnain and Basil Ali performed the national anthems of Brunei and the United States.
For more information about U.S.-Brunei relations: https://www.state.gov/u-s-relations-with-brunei/
