Belizeportal |
Belize maintains 14 embassies to foreign countries, one consulate, and three missions to international organizations. [1] In 1990, Belize became a member of the Organization of American States, and the Commonwealth of Nations in 1981.
To strengthen its potential for economic and political development, Belize has sought to build closer ties with the Spanish-speaking countries of Central America to complement its historical ties to the English-speaking Caribbean states. Recent foreign policy initiatives include joining with the other Central American countries in signing the CONCAUSA Agreement on regional sustainable development and becoming a full member of the Central American Integration System (SICA). Belize is a member of CARICOM which was founded in 1973.
List of countries with which Belize maintains diplomatic relations with:
# | Country | Date [2] [3] |
---|---|---|
1 | Guyana | Unknown |
2 | Bahamas | 21 September 1981 |
3 | Barbados | 21 September 1981 |
4 | Dominica | 21 September 1981 |
5 | Grenada | 21 September 1981 |
6 | Mexico | 21 September 1981 |
7 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 21 September 1981 |
8 | Saint Lucia | 21 September 1981 |
9 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 21 September 1981 |
10 | Trinidad and Tobago | 21 September 1981 |
11 | United Kingdom | 21 September 1981 |
12 | United States | 21 September 1981 |
13 | Costa Rica | September 1981 |
14 | Nicaragua | September 1981 |
15 | Ghana | September 1981 |
16 | Fiji | 20 October 1981 [4] |
17 | Canada | 24 November 1981 |
18 | France | November 1981 |
19 | Panama | 1 December 1981 |
20 | Australia | 17 January 1982 |
21 | Colombia | 15 February 1982 |
22 | Nigeria | 19 April 1982 |
23 | Germany | 31 May 1982 |
24 | Honduras | 21 September 1982 |
25 | Italy | 1 October 1982 |
26 | Jamaica | 3 November 1982 |
27 | Japan | 3 November 1982 |
28 | Sweden | 17 November 1982 [5] |
29 | Belgium | 1982 |
30 | El Salvador | 1982 |
31 | Haiti | 1982 [6] |
32 | Iraq | 25 January 1983 [7] |
33 | Antigua and Barbuda | 4 February 1983 |
34 | Brazil | 1 March 1983 |
— | Holy See | 9 March 1983 |
35 | India | 28 March 1983 |
36 | Bangladesh | 29 August 1983 [8] |
37 | Norway | 12 July 1984 |
— | Israel (suspended) | 11 March 1985 |
38 | Greece | 4 September 1986 |
— | Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic | 18 November 1986 |
39 | Netherlands | 13 April 1987 |
40 | South Korea | 14 April 1987 |
41 | Uruguay | 28 September 1987 |
42 | Bolivia | 1 October 1987 |
43 | Turkey | November 1987 [9] |
44 | Spain | 13 January 1989 |
45 | Venezuela | 25 April 1989 |
46 | Dominican Republic | 6 June 1989 |
47 | Switzerland | July 1989 |
48 | Austria | 14 September 1989 |
— | Taiwan | 11 October 1989 |
49 | Chile | 11 October 1990 |
50 | North Korea | 20 June 1991 |
51 | Russia | 25 June 1991 |
52 | Guatemala | 11 September 1991 |
53 | Seychelles | 11 September 1991 |
54 | Denmark | 15 November 1991 |
55 | Peru | 27 November 1991 |
56 | United Arab Emirates | 10 December 1991 |
57 | Argentina | 8 January 1992 |
58 | Bahrain | 20 July 1992 |
59 | Slovenia | 19 November 1992 |
60 | Iran | 24 November 1992 |
61 | Portugal | 9 December 1992 |
62 | Romania | 25 March 1993 |
63 | Philippines | 19 April 1993 |
64 | Marshall Islands | 21 May 1993 |
65 | Bulgaria | 15 January 1994 |
66 | Egypt | 6 May 1994 |
67 | Cambodia | 1 November 1994 |
68 | Vietnam | 4 January 1995 |
69 | Poland | 2 May 1995 |
70 | Cuba | 15 July 1995 |
71 | Singapore | 23 August 1995 |
72 | Croatia | 23 January 1996 |
73 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 24 January 1996 |
74 | North Macedonia | 25 January 1996 |
75 | Czech Republic | 18 July 1996 |
76 | Slovakia | 6 August 1996 |
77 | Turkmenistan | 11 September 1996 |
78 | South Africa | 14 May 1997 |
79 | Finland | 19 June 1997 |
80 | Mozambique | 30 September 1997 |
81 | Suriname | 13 May 1998 |
82 | Armenia | 12 February 1999 |
83 | Estonia | 5 May 1999 |
84 | Thailand | 11 June 1999 |
85 | Ukraine | 1 October 1999 |
86 | Ecuador | 14 October 1999 |
— | Sovereign Military Order of Malta | 1999 [10] |
87 | Malaysia | 11 February 2000 |
88 | Maldives | 11 February 2000 |
89 | Cyprus | 21 July 2000 |
90 | Ireland | 21 July 2000 |
91 | Belarus | 4 August 2000 [11] |
92 | Morocco | 3 November 2000 |
93 | Angola | 25 January 2001 |
94 | Lebanon | 29 June 2001 |
95 | Syria | 28 August 2001 |
96 | Algeria | 28 November 2001 |
97 | Qatar | 17 May 2002 |
98 | Azerbaijan | 24 June 2002 |
99 | East Timor | 15 April 2003 |
100 | Zambia | 18 September 2003 [12] |
101 | Iceland | 7 July 2004 |
102 | Malta | 1 October 2004 |
103 | Paraguay | 7 November 2004 |
104 | Lithuania | 30 December 2004 [13] |
105 | Latvia | 3 February 2005 |
106 | San Marino | 15 March 2005 |
107 | Oman | 3 March 2006 |
108 | Kuwait | 8 May 2006 |
109 | Jordan | 28 June 2006 |
110 | Botswana | 28 February 2008 |
111 | Luxembourg | 15 May 2008 |
112 | Kazakhstan | 11 November 2013 [14] |
113 | Indonesia | 9 July 2014 [15] |
— | State of Palestine | 9 July 2014 [15] |
114 | Hungary | 10 June 2015 |
115 | Pakistan | 23 October 2015 [16] |
— | Kosovo | 29 April 2016 [17] |
116 | Mongolia | 20 June 2017 |
117 | Montenegro | 6 September 2017 [18] |
118 | Georgia | 1 October 2017 |
119 | Tajikistan | 21 December 2017 |
120 | Andorra | 26 February 2018 |
121 | Mauritius | 4 April 2018 |
122 | New Zealand | 18 March 2019 [19] |
123 | Serbia | 24 September 2019 |
124 | Rwanda | 22 January 2020 |
125 | Sierra Leone | 23 September 2021 |
126 | Nepal | 1 April 2022 |
127 | Kenya | 22 June 2022 [20] |
128 | Moldova | 3 August 2022 |
129 | Saudi Arabia | 24 September 2022 |
130 | Benin | 14 September 2023 |
131 | Solomon Islands | 22 September 2023 |
132 | Gambia | 22 September 2023 [21] |
133 | Cape Verde | 15 February 2024 |
134 | Uzbekistan | 5 March 2024 [22] |
Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
---|---|---|
Botswana | 28 February 2008 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 28 February 2008. [23]
|
Ghana | September 1981 | Both countries established diplomatic relations in September 1981. [2]
|
Mozambique | 30 September 1997 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 30 September 1997. [2]
|
Nigeria | 19 April 1982 |
|
Seychelles | 11 September 1991 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 11 September 1991. [2]
|
South Africa | 14 May 1997 |
|
Tunisia | Both countries have passed a number of bilateral agreements. [27] |
Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
---|---|---|
Antigua and Barbuda | 4 February 1983 |
|
Argentina | 8 January 1992 |
|
Barbados | 21 September 1981 |
|
Bahamas | 21 September 1981 |
|
Bolivia | 1 October 1987 |
|
Brazil | 1 March 1983 | See Belize–Brazil relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 March 1983. [2]
|
Canada |
| |
Chile | 11 October 1990 |
|
Colombia | 15 February 1982 | On 15 February 1982, formal relations were established. Colombia's embassy in Belize closed in 2002 in order to cut down on costs though the embassy of Colombia in El Salvador is also concurrent to Belize. On 17 April 2013, the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister met with the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Colombia in order to strengthen relations. [32]
|
Costa Rica | September 1981 |
|
Cuba | 1995 | Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1995. [33]
|
Dominican Republic |
Both countries are members of the Association of Caribbean States, CARIFORUM, the Organization of American States (OAS), and Group of 77, and the United Nations. | |
Dominica | 21 September 1981 | |
Ecuador | 14 October 1999 |
|
El Salvador |
| |
Grenada | 21 September 1981 |
. |
Guatemala | See Belize–Guatemala relations Belize's principal external concern has been the dispute involving the Guatemalan claim to Belizean territory. Initially a dispute between formerly Spanish Guatemala and the United Kingdom's colony of British Honduras, Guatemala continued its claim after Belizean independence in 1981; it recognized its neighbour's independence one decade later, in 1991. The dispute remains unresolved.
| |
Guyana |
| |
Haiti |
| |
Honduras | 21 September 1982 |
|
Jamaica | 3 November 1982 |
|
Mexico | 1981 | See Belize–Mexico relations Diplomatic relations between Mexico and Belize were established in 1981.
|
Nicaragua | 1981 | Diplomatic relations between Nicaragua and Belize were established in 1981.
|
Panama | 1 December 1981 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 December 1981. [36]
|
Paraguay | 7 November 2004 | |
Peru | 27 November 1991 |
|
Saint Lucia | 21 September 1981 |
|
Saint Kitts and Nevis | 21 September 1981 |
|
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 21 September 1981 |
|
Suriname | 13 May 1998 |
|
Trinidad and Tobago | 21 September 1981 |
|
United States | See Belize–United States relations Belize-United States relations have traditionally been close and cordial. The United States is Belize's principal trading partner and major source of investment funds. It is also home to the largest Belizean community outside Belize, estimated to be 70,000 strong. Because Belize's economic growth and accompanying democratic political stability are important U.S. objectives, Belize benefits from the U.S. Caribbean Basin Initiative. As a member of CARICOM Belize strongly backed efforts by the United States to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 940 designed to facilitate the departure of Haiti's de facto authorities from power. The country agreed to contribute military personnel to the Multinational Task Force which restored the democratically elected Government of Haiti in October 1994 and to the United Nations Mission in Haiti (UNMIH). Belize is also a member of the International Criminal Court with a Bilateral Immunity Agreement of protection for the American military (as covered under Article 98). International crime issues dominate the agenda of bilateral relations between the United States and Belize. The United States is working closely with the Government of Belize to fight illicit narcotics trafficking, and both governments seek to control the flow of illegal migrants to the United States through Belize. Belize and the United States brought into force a stolen vehicle treaty, an extradition treaty, and a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty between 2001 and 2003. The United States is the largest provider of economic assistance to Belize, contributing $2.5 million in various bilateral economic and military aid programs to Belize in FY 2006. Of this amount, nearly $500,000 was provided by the U.S. Military Liaison Office. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) closed its Belize office in August 1996 after a 13-year program during which USAID provided $110 million worth of development assistance to Belize. Belize still benefits from USAID regional programs. In addition, during the past 42 years, almost 2,000 Peace Corps volunteers have served in Belize. As of April 2007, the Peace Corps had 58 volunteers working in Belize. Until the end of 2002, Voice of America operated a medium-wave radio relay station in Punta Gorda that broadcast to the neighboring countries of Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. The U.S. military has a diverse and growing assistance program in Belize that included the construction and renovation of several schools and youth hostels, medical assistance programs, and drug reduction programs. Private North American investors continue to play a key role in Belize's economy, particularly in the tourism sector.
| |
Uruguay | 28 September 1987 |
|
Venezuela | 25 April 1989 |
|
Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
---|---|---|
China | Belize does not have Diplomatic recognition of China. See Foreign relations of China. | In June 2020, Belize openly opposed the Hong Kong national security law [38] |
India | See Belize–India relations | |
Israel | 11 March 1985 (Diplomatic relations severed 15 November 2023) |
|
Japan | November 1982 |
|
Palestine | Under the previous premiership of Said Musa, Belize remained a staunch supporter of Palestinian rights and shunned relations with Israel due to the latter's military and intelligence support for Guatemala. [47] Since the election of Dean Barrow in 2008, however, relations with Israel have improved considerably. In June 2011, Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington met with Israeli envoy Danny Ayalon to discuss an upcoming resolution in September aimed at recognising a Palestinian state. Following the meeting, Ayalon claimed that he had gained the support of Belize in opposing the resolution. However, on 9 September, the Belizean Foreign Ministry issued an official statement recognizing the State of Palestine with the borders prior to the Six-Day War. | |
South Korea | 14 April 1987 | Belize and South Korea established diplomatic relation on April 14, 1987. The two nations have good relations. [48] |
Taiwan | 1989 | See Belize–Taiwan relations Belize recognizes the Republic of China (ROC, commonly known as Taiwan) [49] as the sole legitimate government of China. Relations were established between Belize and the ROC in 1989.
|
Turkey | Oct. 29, 1981 [50] | See Belize–Turkey relations
|
United Arab Emirates | 10 December 1991 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 10 December 1991. [2]
|
Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
---|---|---|
Belgium | 1982 | Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1982. [2]
|
Bulgaria | 15 February 1994 | |
Cyprus | 21 July 2000 |
|
Czech Republic | 15 February 1994 | |
Denmark | 15 November 1991 [58] |
|
Estonia | 5 May 1999 | |
Finland | 19 June 1997 | |
France |
| |
Germany | 1982 | |
Greece | 4 September 1986 |
|
Hungary | Hungary is represented in Belize through its embassy in Mexico City. [69] | |
Holy See | 9 March 1983 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 9 March 1983. [2]
|
Italy | 1 October 1982 | |
Norway | Since 2011, Belize and Norway have an Agreement concerning the exchange of information relating to tax matters they had signed in 2010. [72] | |
Russia | 25 June 1991 | Both countries have established diplomatic relations on 25 June 1991. Belize immediately recognized Russia as the USSR's successor after the breakup of the Soviet Union. Russia is represented in Belize through its embassy in Mexico City and an honorary consulate in Belize City. |
Slovakia | Slovakia is represented in Belize through its embassy in Mexico City. [73] | |
Slovenia | Belize is represented in Slovenia through its embassy in Vienna. [74] | |
Spain | 13 January 1989 | See Belize–Spain relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 13 January 1989. [2] |
Sweden | Sweden is represented in Belize through its embassy in Stockholm and an honorary consulate in Belmopan. [75] | |
Switzerland |
| |
United Kingdom | 1981 | See Belize–United Kingdom relations Belize is a member of the Commonwealth and was granted independence from the United Kingdom in 1981. Formerly known as British Honduras, the British maintained a garrison in Belize well into the 1990s, until Guatemala, which has always claimed sovereignty of the country, signed a treaty recognizing Belize's independence. The United Kingdom maintains a training center for the army in Belize. On 3 March 2012, Prince Harry visited Belize on a tour of Commonwealth countries in the region as the Queen's representative in her Diamond Jubilee, making this his first solo royal tour. There he renamed Zennia Boulevard (also known as Cohune Walk Boulevard) in the capital to "Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Boulevard", in honour of his grandmother. [77] |
Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
---|---|---|
Australia |
| |
New Zealand | New Zealand is accredited to Belize from its embassy in Mexico City. [79] |
Belize has been a member state of the Commonwealth since 1981, when it became an independent Commonwealth realm.
King Charles III as King of Belize is viceregally represented by the Governor-General of Belize.
Belize is a member of the following multilateral bodies.
Since its independence, Armenia has maintained a policy of trying to have positive and friendly relations with Iran, Russia, and the West, including the United States and the European Union. It has full membership status in a number of international organizations, such as the Council of Europe and the Eurasian Economic Union, and observer status, etc. in some others. However, the dispute over the Armenian genocide of 1915 and the ongoing Nagorno-Karabakh conflict have created tense relations with two of its immediate neighbors, Azerbaijan and Turkey.
Cyprus is a member of the United Nations along with most of its agencies as well as the Commonwealth of Nations, World Bank, International Monetary Fund and Council of Europe. In addition, the country has signed the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency Agreement (MIGA). Cyprus has been a member of the European Union since 2004 and in the second half of the 2012 it held the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
Colombia seeks diplomatic and commercial relations with all countries, regardless of their ideologies or political or economic systems. For this reason, the Colombian economy is quite open, relying on international trade and following guidelines given by international law.
Like its Eastern Caribbean neighbours, the main priority of Dominica's foreign relations is economic development. The country maintains missions in Washington, New York, London, and Brussels and is represented jointly with other Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) members in Canada. Dominica is also a member of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, and the Commonwealth of Nations. It became a member of the United Nations and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 1978 and of the World Bank and Organization of American States (OAS) in 1979.
Fiji has experienced many coups recently, in 1987, 2000, and 2006. Fiji has been suspended various times from the Commonwealth of Nations, a grouping of mostly former British colonies. It was readmitted to the Commonwealth in December 2001, following the parliamentary election held to restore democracy in September that year, and has been suspended again because of the 2006 coup, but has been readmitted a second time after the 2014 election. Other Pacific Island governments have generally been sympathetic to Fiji's internal political problems and have declined to take public positions.
Guatemala's major diplomatic interests are regional security and increasingly, regional development and economic integration.
After independence in 1966, Guyana sought an influential role in international affairs, particularly among Third World and non-aligned nations. It served twice on the UN Security Council. Former Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Attorney General Mohamed Shahabuddeen served a 9-year term on the International Court of Justice (1987–96). In June 2023, Guyana was elected as a non-permanent member to the UN Security Council. The country will serve on the Council for a period of two years, beginning in January 2024.
Jamaica has diplomatic relations with many nations and is a member of the United Nations and the Organization of American States. Jamaica chairs the Working Group on smaller Economies.
Kyrgyzstan has close relations with other members of the Commonwealth of Independent States, particularly Kazakhstan and Russia, given the historical legacy of the Soviet Union. It also has close relations with Turkey as well, given their shared heritage as Turkic languages.
Lesotho's geographic location makes it extremely vulnerable to political and economic developments in South Africa. Its capital is the small city of Maseru. It is a member of many regional economic organizations including the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). Lesotho also is active in the United Nations, the Organisation of African Unity, now the African Union, the Non-Aligned Movement, and many other international organizations. In addition to the Republic of Korea, the United States, South Africa, Ireland, People's Republic of China, Libya, and the European Union all currently retain resident diplomatic missions in Lesotho. Foreign relations of Lesotho are administered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations.
Though the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) is the government agency which is responsible for conducting the foreign relations of Nepal, historically, it is the Office of Prime Minister (PMO) which has exercised the authority to formulate the country's foreign policies. As a landlocked country wedged between two larger and far stronger powers, Nepal has tried to maintain good relations with both of its neighbors, People's Republic of China and Republic of India. However, the relationship between Nepal and India was significantly hampered by the 2015 Nepal blockade when the Government of Nepal accused India of mimicking "Russia-Ukraine" tactics by using ethnically Indian residents of Nepal to cause unrest along Nepal's southern border. India denied the allegation and said the unrest were an internal affair. For the most part though, Nepal has traditionally maintained a non-aligned policy and enjoys friendly relations with its neighboring countries and almost all the major countries of the world.
The Islamic Republic of Pakistan emerged as an independent country through the partition of India in August 1947 and was admitted as a United Nations member state in September 1947. It is currently the second-largest country within the Muslim world in terms of population, and is also the only Muslim-majority country in possession of nuclear weapons. De facto, the country shares direct land borders with India, Iran, Afghanistan, and China.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines maintains close ties to the US, Canada, and the United Kingdom, and cooperates with regional political and economic organizations such as the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and CARICOM. St. Vincent and the Grenadines is a member of the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations, the Organization of American States, and the Association of Caribbean States (ACS). Saint Vincent is also the smallest nation ever to be on the United Nations Security Council.
The foreign relations of South Africa have spanned from the country's time as a Dominion of the British Empire to its isolationist policies under apartheid to its position as a responsible international actor taking a key role in Africa, particularly Southern Africa. South Africa is a member of the United Nations, the African Union and the Commonwealth of Nations. Considered a possible permanent addition to the United Nations Security Council, South Africa was elected in 2006, 2010 and 2018 by the UN General Assembly to serve on the Security Council. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was the chair of the African Union from 2020 to 2021, the second time South Africa has chaired the organisation since its formation in 2003.
As part of the foreign relations of Suriname, the country is a participant in numerous international organizations.
Foreign relations of Tajikistan are based on a desire to secure foreign investment and promote regional security while ensuring Tajikistan's independence. Sirodjidin Aslov is the current Foreign’s Minister of Tajikistan.
Finnish-Chinese relations are the foreign relations between Finland and China.
Antigua and Barbuda maintains diplomatic relations with the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the People's Republic of China, as well as with many Latin American countries and neighbouring Eastern Caribbean states. It is a member of the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations, the Organization of American States, the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, the Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas, Petrocaribe and the Eastern Caribbean's Regional Security System (RSS).
The Bahamas has a strong bilateral relationship with the United Kingdom, represented by a High Commissioner in London. The Bahamas also associates closely with other nations of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
Belize and India maintain honorary consulates in each other's capital cities.
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(help)This article incorporates public domain material from The World Factbook. CIA. This article incorporates public domain material from U.S. Bilateral Relations Fact Sheets. United States Department of State.