The formation of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces took place on May 31, 1961. Brunei had been a British protectorate since 1888, dependent on the British armed forces for its defense. In 1961, some 60 Brunei recruits began training as part of a transition period toward complete independence for the country, which occurred in 1984. The Royal Brunei Armed Forces maintain close ties with the British military forces, as well as those of Malaysia and Singapore. They also regularly cooperate in exercises with the armed forces of New Zealand, Australia, and the United States.