This article needs additional citations for verification .(May 2009) |
Independence | 31 January 1968 |
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Joined UN | 14 September 1999 |
Nauru became a sovereign, independent republic on 31 January 1968, following the passage of the Nauru Independence Act 1967 by the Parliament of Australia and the end of its status as a United Nations Trust Territory. Nauru has established diplomatic relations with a number of nations, including most of its Pacific neighbors with which it maintains economic, cultural and administrative ties.
Nauru was admitted to the United Nations on 14 September 1999. Nauru's application to the United Nations was questioned by the People's Republic of China due to Nauru's close diplomatic and trade links to Taiwan. Nevertheless, Nauru was granted UN full membership.
Nauru became a full member of the Commonwealth of Nations in May 1999. Since independence, Nauru had been a special member of the Commonwealth prior to 1999, but having fallen behind in payments, reverted to Special Member status on 1 July 2005, with no authoritative power. It then returned to be a full member again in June 2011. [1]
Additionally outside the region, Nauru is a member or participant of the ACP (Lomé Convention), the Alliance of Small Island States, the Asian Development Bank, the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the G-77, the International Civil Aviation Organization, the International Maritime Organization, the ITU, and the International Olympic Committee.
Nauru is notable for its lack of membership in several major international organizations. Nauru is one of only seven UN members that is not a member of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and one of 12 not part of the International Finance Corporation. Nauru also is not a member of the International Development Association and has no society associated with the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Finally, as with many other nations in Oceania, Nauru is not a member of the International Hydrographic Organization.
Regional cooperation through various multilateral organizations is a key element in Nauru's foreign policy. The country also hosted the regional meeting that resulted in the Nauru Agreement Concerning Cooperation in the Management of Fisheries of Common Interest whose eight signatories (including Nauru) collectively controls 25–30% of the world's tuna supply and approximately 60% of the western and central Pacific tuna supply. [2] Additionally, Nauru is a full member of the Pacific Islands Forum, the South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission, the Pacific Regional Environment Programme and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.
In 2001 Nauru became host to approximately 867 refugees, mostly Afghan, who were intercepted while attempting to enter Australia illegally. This exchange was one of many which were collectively known as Australia's Pacific Solution. In February 2008, the last of the refugees were resettled in Australia. [3] [4]
List of countries which Nauru maintains diplomatic relations with:
# | Country | Date |
---|---|---|
1 | Australia | 26 August 1968 [5] |
2 | Japan | December 1972 [6] |
3 | New Zealand | 24 July 1974 [7] |
4 | Belgium | 4 July 1975 [8] |
5 | India | 12 September 1975 [9] |
6 | Turkey | 27 April 1976 [10] |
7 | United States | 24 October 1976 [11] |
8 | United Kingdom | 1 December 1977 [12] |
9 | France | 15 March 1978 [13] |
10 | Solomon Islands | 7 July 1978 [14] |
11 | Germany | 15 April 1979 [15] |
12 | South Korea | 20 August 1979 [16] |
13 | Samoa | 1979 [17] |
— | Taiwan (terminated) | 4 May 1980 [18] |
14 | Vanuatu | 30 July 1980 [19] |
15 | Fiji | 1980 [20] |
16 | Chile | 6 February 1981 [21] |
17 | North Korea | 25 February 1982 [22] |
18 | Philippines | 23 April 1982 [23] |
19 | Netherlands | 1982 [24] |
20 | Greece | 1 October 1984 [25] |
21 | Peru | 1984 [26] |
22 | Federated States of Micronesia | 10 April 1987 [27] |
23 | Russia | 30 December 1987 [28] |
24 | Marshall Islands | 22 February 1991 [29] |
— | Holy See | 1 June 1992 [30] |
25 | Palau | 14 October 1994 [31] |
26 | Israel | December 1994 [32] |
— | Cook Islands | 1994 [33] |
27 | Spain | 27 September 1995 [34] |
28 | Italy | 27 February 1997 [35] |
29 | Canada | 11 September 1997 [36] |
30 | Ireland | 21 March 2000 [37] |
31 | Cyprus | 23 March 2000 [37] |
32 | Maldives | 9 May 2000 [37] |
33 | Norway | 9 August 2000 [38] |
34 | Croatia | 4 December 2000 [37] |
35 | Bulgaria | 30 April 2001 [37] |
36 | Belarus | 12 September 2001 [37] |
37 | Mexico | 21 September 2001 [37] |
38 | Cuba | 7 May 2002 [39] |
39 | China | 21 July 2002 [40] |
40 | Switzerland | 2003 [41] |
41 | Iceland | 17 February 2004 [37] |
42 | Azerbaijan | 11 November 2004 [37] |
43 | North Macedonia | 2 December 2004 [37] |
44 | Thailand | 14 January 2005 [42] |
45 | Brazil | 2 November 2005 [37] |
46 | Austria | 9 November 2005 [37] |
47 | Vietnam | 21 June 2006 [37] |
48 | Guatemala | 6 December 2006 [37] |
49 | Czech Republic | 19 February 2007 [37] |
50 | United Arab Emirates | 27 March 2007 [37] |
51 | Cambodia | 25 April 2007 [43] |
52 | Venezuela | 7 May 2007 [44] |
53 | Dominican Republic | 28 September 2007 [45] |
54 | Malta | 19 November 2008 [37] |
55 | Singapore | 12 March 2009 [37] |
56 | Finland | 24 March 2009 [37] |
57 | Portugal | 9 September 2009 [37] |
58 | Malaysia | 5 October 2009 [46] |
— | Abkhazia | 15 December 2009 [47] |
— | South Ossetia | 16 December 2009 [48] |
59 | Luxembourg | 21 May 2010 [37] |
60 | Morocco | 9 September 2010 [37] |
61 | Egypt | 25 September 2010 [49] |
62 | Montenegro | 25 January 2011 [37] |
63 | Qatar | 11 February 2011 [50] |
64 | Jamaica | 24 February 2011 [37] |
65 | Romania | 2 March 2011 [37] |
66 | Slovenia | 11 March 2011 [37] |
67 | Uruguay | 14 March 2011 [51] |
68 | Seychelles | 14 April 2011 [37] |
69 | Albania | 20 April 2011 [37] |
70 | Slovakia | 24 June 2011 [37] |
71 | Lithuania | 28 June 2011 [37] |
72 | Hungary | 12 July 2011 [37] |
73 | Mongolia | 13 October 2011 [37] |
74 | Estonia | 21 March 2012 [37] |
75 | Gambia | 27 September 2012 [52] |
76 | Sweden | 28 September 2012 [53] |
77 | Indonesia | 21 December 2012 [54] |
78 | Kuwait | 9 April 2013 [37] |
79 | Poland | 24 November 2014 [55] |
80 | Argentina | 31 October 2016 [37] |
81 | Armenia | 22 September 2017 [37] |
82 | Tajikistan | 20 December 2017 [56] |
83 | Latvia | 21 May 2018 [37] |
— | Sovereign Military Order of Malta | 5 October 2018 [57] |
84 | Serbia | 25 September 2019 [58] |
85 | Nicaragua | 18 October 2019 [37] |
86 | Kyrgyzstan | 31 January 2020 [37] |
87 | Nepal | 4 May 2023 [37] |
88 | Bahrain | 4 May 2023 [37] |
89 | Saudi Arabia | 7 November 2023 [37] |
90 | Monaco | 21 May 2024 [37] |
91 | Benin | 6 November 2024 [37] |
92 | Kiribati | Unknown |
— | Niue | Unknown |
93 | Papua New Guinea | Unknown |
94 | Tonga | Unknown |
95 | Tuvalu | Unknown |
Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
---|---|---|
Australia | 16 August 1968 at Representative level, 21 November 1972 upgraded to High Commission Level | See Australia–Nauru relations Australia administered Nauru as a dependent territory from 1914 to 1968, and has remained one of Nauru's foremost economic and aid partners thereafter. Relations between the two countries are, at present, cordial, with Australia having committed itself to assisting Nauru's economic development. |
People's Republic of China | 21 July 2002 – 27 May 2005 24 January 2024 (second) | See China–Nauru relations The Republic of Nauru and the People's Republic of China established diplomatic relations on 21 July 2002, [59] and resumed on 24 January 2024. [60] |
Cuba | 7 May 2002 | In the late 2000s, Nauru began to strengthen its relations with Cuba. Cuba provides medical aid to Nauru; an unspecified number of Cuban doctors are serving in Nauru. [61] In June 2007, Nauru adopted the "Cuban literacy method", reportedly used also in several other countries. [62] In October 2007, Nauruan Foreign Minister and Trade Minister David Adeang travelled to Cuba to strengthen relations between the two island nations. [61] This led to the creation of a Cuba-Nauru Joint Intergovernmental Commission for Economic Cooperation. [63] At approximately this time, Nauru-US relations underwent tensions for reasons which were not completely clear (See also: Foreign relations of Nauru#Ties with the United States of America, above). In September 2008, Nauru's foreign minister attended the first Cuba-Pacific Islands ministerial meeting in Havana, aimed at "strengthening cooperation" between Nauru and Cuba, notably on coping with the impact of climate change. [64] [65] |
India | 1975 | See India-Nauru relations India established relations with the country since its independence in 1968 and have had numerous visits by presidents of Nauru to the Republic since then. India is one of the largest donors to the island by helping the education ministry and revamping the island's parliament facilities to its MP's and its Speaker. India has also reserved 5 slots for Naruran citizens for training courses under the Indian Technical & Economical Cooperation (ITEC) programme in the year 2010–11.[3] One scholarship slot is also offered under General Cultural Scholarship of ICCR (Commonwealth Scheme). [66] |
Israel | See Israel–Nauru relations | |
Mexico | 21 September 2001 |
|
New Zealand | 1975 |
|
Russia | 30 December 1987 | See Nauru–Russia relations Russia is accredited to Nauru from its embassy in Canberra, Australia. Nauru's banks are said to have provided services to the mafia in Russia during the 1990s; over the course of the 1990s, approximately 70 billion U.S. dollars owned by Russian mafia were held in Nauru banks. [67] |
Republic of China (Taiwan) | 4 May 1980 – 23 July 2002 (first) 14 May 2005 – 15 January 2024 (second) | See Nauru–Taiwan relations On 15 January 2024, Nauru severed diplomatic relations with the Republic of China (Taiwan) again, restored diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, and recognized "the People's Republic of China as the only legitimate government of China" and "Taiwan as part of the People's Republic of China." [68] On 21 July 2002, Nauru broke diplomatic relations with Taiwan and established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. In 2003, Nauru closed its embassy in Beijing. [69] In April 2005, during a state visit to the Marshall Islands, ROC President Chen Shui-bian met and spoke with the Nauruan President Ludwig Scotty. On 14 May 2005, the two countries signed the necessary documents to restore formal ties and reopen embassies. [70] On 15 January 2024, Nauru cut ties with the ROC. [71] |
Turkey | Oct. 24, 1976 [72] | |
United States | 24 October 1976 | See Nauru–United States relations The Nauruan government has a very complex relationship with the United States; the government of Bernard Dowiyogo agreed to stop passport sales and offshore banking in return for an extensive aid package. [73] However, according to Nauru, that aid has not been delivered and Nauru is now looking to Japan and China for assistance [ citation needed ]. According to the U.S. Department of State, Nauru has cordial relations with the United States [74] The U.S. has no consular or diplomatic offices in Nauru. Officers of the American Embassy in Suva, Fiji, are concurrently accredited to Nauru and make periodic visits. In September 2007, David Adeang, Nauru's Foreign Minister, made a number of public statements in relation to the United States. He extolled Cuba and criticized US foreign policy, during a visit to the Caribbean island. [75] Subsequently, the US Department of State, referring to events investigated in 2007, reported criticism of Adeang in its Human Rights Report, issued for 2008. [76] This criticism was included in the State Department's report, despite the fact that police, having undertaken an investigation of allegations of wrongdoing, made no attempt to prosecute Adeang. Shortly after Adeang's public pronouncements, a crisis, with himself at the centre, led to the collapse of President of Nauru Ludwig Scotty's government. Trade between the United States and Nauru is limited by the latter's small size and economic problems. The value of two-way trade in 2005 was US$1.6 million. In October 2008 the new U.S. Ambassador to Fiji, also accredited to Nauru, pledged efforts to assist Nauru's economic development. [77] |
Nauru has diplomatic relations with most states in Oceania. [80] It also has ties with most major industrial countries, including Japan, [81] the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, France, the UK, Germany, Spain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United States of America and South Africa. [79] Nauru has diplomatic relations with the European Union, [82] most of its member states [92] and a few other states in Europe, [93] including the Holy See (Vatican City). [94]
In 1995, Nauru broke off relations diplomatic relations with France to protest French nuclear testing in the Pacific. Relations were resumed in 1997. [95]
Nauru established diplomatic relations with Kosovo on 23 April 2008, [96] which ended 13 November 2019 as Nauru withdrew its recognition. [97]
Nauru established diplomatic relations with Abkhazia and South Ossetia on 15 December 2009. [98]
Nauru has used its position as a member of the United Nations to gain financial support from both the Republic of China (ROC) and the People's Republic of China (PRC) by changing its position on the political status of Taiwan. During 2002, Nauru signed an agreement to establish diplomatic relations with the PRC on 21 July. Nauru accepted $130m from the PRC for this diplomatic move. [99] In response, the ROC severed diplomatic relations with Nauru two days later. Nauru later re-established links with the ROC on 14 May 2005, [100] and diplomatic ties with the PRC were officially severed on 31 May 2005. Similarly, Nauru recognized the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic on 12 August 1981. Then, on 15 September 2000, Nauru withdrew recognition of the SADR, and signed accords with Morocco on the phosphates area, which are running out in the island. [101] [102] In 2008, Nauru recognized Kosovo as an independent country, but withdrew its recognition in 2019. [97] Additionally, in 2009, Nauru became only the fourth country to recognize the breakaway republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which are both claimed by Georgia. Russia was reported to be giving Nauru $50m in humanitarian aid in return. [99]
Nauru has been an independent republic in the Commonwealth of Nations since 1968.[ citation needed ]
The government of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) conducts its own foreign relations. Since independence in 1986, the FSM has established diplomatic relations with 92 countries, including all of its Pacific neighbors.
Kiribati is a full member of the Commonwealth, the IMF and the World Bank, and became a full member of the United Nations in 1999. Kiribati hosted the Thirty-First Pacific Islands Forum in October 2000. Kiribati has Least Developed Country Status and its interests rarely extend beyond the region. Through accession to the Lomé Convention, then Cotonou Agreement, Kiribati is also a member of the African Caribbean and Pacific Group. Kiribati maintains good relations with most countries and has particularly close ties to Pacific neighbours Japan, Australia, South Korea and New Zealand. Kiribati briefly suspended its relations with France in 1995 over that country's decision to renew nuclear testing in the South Pacific.
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), has full diplomatic relations with 180 out of the other 192 United Nations member states, Cook Islands, Niue and the State of Palestine. As of 2024, China has had the most diplomatic missions of any state.
Foreign relations of the Republic of China (ROC), more commonly known as Taiwan, are accomplished by efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China, a cabinet-level ministry of the Government of the Republic of China. As of January 2024, the ROC has formal diplomatic relations with 11 of the 193 United Nations member states and with the Holy See, which governs the Vatican City State. In addition to these relations, the ROC also maintains unofficial relations with 59 UN member states, one self-declared state (Somaliland), three territories (Guam, Hong Kong, and Macau), and the European Union via its representative offices and consulates. In 2021, the Government of the Republic of China had the 33rd largest diplomatic network in the world with 110 offices.
Vanuatu maintains diplomatic relations with many countries, and it has a small network of diplomatic missions. Australia, France, Japan, New Zealand, the People's Republic of China, South Korea and the United Kingdom maintain embassies, High Commissions, or missions in Port Vila. The British High Commission maintained a continued presence for almost a century, though closed from 2005 until reopening in 2019.
Foreign relations of Australia are influenced by its position as a leading trading nation and as a significant donor of humanitarian aid. Australia's foreign policy is guided by a commitment to multilateralism and regionalism, as well as to build strong bilateral relations with its allies. Key concerns include free trade, terrorism, refugees, economic co-operation with Asia and stability in the Indo-Pacific. Australia is active in the United Nations and the Commonwealth of Nations. Given its history of starting and supporting important regional and global initiatives, it has been described as a regional middle power par excellence.
From 1916 to 1975, Tuvalu was part of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands colony of the United Kingdom. A referendum was held in 1974 to determine whether the Gilbert Islands and Ellice Islands should each have their own administration. As a consequence of the referendum, the separate British colonies of Kiribati and Tuvalu were formed. Tuvalu became fully independent as a sovereign state within the Commonwealth on 1 October 1978. On 5 September 2000, Tuvalu became the 189th member of the United Nations.
Tonga, by a modification of its treaty of friendship with the United Kingdom in July 1970, is responsible for its own external affairs. It maintains cordial relations with most countries and has close relations with its Pacific neighbours and the United Kingdom. In 1998, it recognized the People's Republic of China and broke relations with Taiwan.
The foreign policy of Solomon Islands as of 2008 was described by the Solomon Islands government as a "look north" policy, aimed as strengthening diplomatic and economic relations with Asian countries for development purposes.
Since its founding in 1949, the People's Republic of China (PRC) has had a diplomatic tug-of-war with its rival in Taiwan, the Republic of China (ROC). Throughout the Cold War, both governments claimed to be the sole legitimate government of all China and allowed countries to recognize either one or the other. Until the 1970s, most Western countries in the Western Bloc recognized the ROC while the Eastern Bloc and Third World countries generally recognized the PRC. This gradually shifted and today only 11 UN member states recognize the ROC while the PRC is recognized by the United Nations, as well as 181 UN member states, Cook Islands, Niue and the State of Palestine. Both the ROC and the PRC maintain the requirement of recognizing its view of the One China policy to establish or maintain diplomatic relations.
Niue maintains diplomatic relations with various other countries and multilateral organizations.
Oceania is, to the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China, a stage for continuous diplomatic competition. The PRC dictates that no state can have diplomatic relations with both the PRC and the ROC. As of 2024, eleven states in Oceania have diplomatic relations with the PRC, and three have diplomatic relations with the ROC. These numbers fluctuate as Pacific Island nations re-evaluate their foreign policies, and occasionally shift diplomatic recognition between Beijing and Taipei. The issue of which "Chinese" government to recognize has become a central theme in the elections of numerous Pacific island nations, and has led to several votes of no-confidence.
The political status of the Cook Islands and Niue is formally defined as being states in free association within the Realm of New Zealand, which is made up of the Cook Islands, Niue, and New Zealand and its territories, Tokelau and the Ross Dependency. The Cook Islands and Niue do not have full constitutional independence from New Zealand but act as independent countries. Some countries have recognised them as sovereign entities and established diplomatic relations. However, New Zealand may carry out defence and foreign affairs on behalf of the two associated states when requested.
China–Nauru relations are relations between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Nauru. The Republic of Nauru and the People's Republic of China established diplomatic relations on 21 July 2002, and resumed on 24 January 2024. Between 2005 and 2024, The government of Nauru recognized the Republic of China, and, in accordance with the "One China" policy, the People's Republic of China did not have diplomatic relations to the country.
Solomon Islands no longer has official diplomatic ties with Taiwan (ROC) due to the One-China policy since 2020.
Nauru–Taiwan relations are relations between the Republic of Nauru and the Republic of China (Taiwan). Official diplomatic relations were first established in 1980. Relations were first severed in 2003, when Nauru opted to recognize the People's Republic of China. Formal bilateral relations with Nauru were reestablished in 2005, and maintained until 2024.
Palau–Taiwan relations are the bilateral relations between the Republic of Palau and the Republic of China (Taiwan). Palau maintains an embassy in Taipei and Taiwan maintains an embassy in Koror City. Exchanges between the two nations range from agriculture, culture, education, fishery, medical services, tourism and water supply infrastructure. As of 12 November 2024, Palau is one of only 12 United Nations member states to have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
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