Foreign relations of Gabon

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Gabon has followed a non-aligned policy, advocating dialogue in international affairs and recognizing both parts of divided countries. Since 1973, the number of countries establishing diplomatic relations with Gabon has doubled. In inter-African affairs, Gabon espouses development by evolution rather than revolution and favors regulated free enterprise as the system most likely to promote rapid economic growth. Concerned about stability in Central Africa and the potential for intervention, Gabon has been directly involved with mediation efforts in Chad, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Angola, and former Zaire. In December 1999, through the mediation efforts of President Bongo, a peace accord was signed in the Republic of Congo between the government and most leaders of an armed rebellion. President Bongo has remained involved in the continuing Congolese peace process. Gabon has been a strong proponent of regional stability, and Gabonese armed forces played an important role in the UN Peacekeeping Mission to the Central African Republic (MINURCA).

Gabon is a member of the UN and some of its specialized and related agencies, including the World Bank; Organisation of African Unity (OAU); Central African Customs Union (UDEAC/CEMAC); EC association under Lomé Convention; Communaute Financiere Africaine (CFA); Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC); Non-Aligned Movement; Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

Gabon is also a member of the International Criminal Court with a Bilateral Immunity Agreement of protection for the US-military (as covered under Article 98).

Diplomatic relations

List of countries which Gabon maintains diplomatic relations with:

More information #, Country ...
# Country Date
1 Japan 17 August 1960[1]
2 United States 17 August 1960[2]
3 France 18 August 1960[3]
4 Belgium 3 October 1960[4]
5 Israel 15 November 1960[5]
6 United Kingdom 9 December 1960[6]
7 Netherlands 24 August 1961[7]
8 Luxembourg 1 December 1961[8]
9 Canada February 1962[9]
10 Germany 13 April 1962[10]
11 Lebanon 24 September 1962[11]
12 South Korea 1 October 1962[12]
13 Republic of the Congo November 1962[13]
14 Cameroon 1 February 1963[14]
15 Turkey 1 February 1963[14]
16 Italy 6 February 1963[15]
17 Chad 3 September 1963[16]
18 Mali 30 October 1963[17]
19 Sudan 1963[18]
— Sovereign Military Order of Malta 1963[19]
20  Switzerland 11 February 1964[20]
21 Spain 25 February 1964[21]
22 Central African Republic 26 March 1964[22]
23 Sweden May 1965[23]
24 Norway 28 September 1965[24]
25 Burkina Faso 11 November 1965[25]
26 Denmark 22 February 1966[26]
27 India 16 July 1966[27]
28 Ivory Coast 30 December 1966[28]
— Holy See 31 October 1967[29]
29 Ethiopia 1967[30]
30 Niger 22 April 1968[31]
31 Senegal 17 May 1968[32]
32 Togo 21 June 1968[33]
33 Equatorial Guinea 1968[34]
34 Benin 29 October 1969[35]
35 Democratic Republic of Congo 28 January 1970[36]
36 Austria 1 April 1970[37]
37 Tunisia 10 July 1971[38]
38 Morocco 12 July 1972[39]
39 Romania 21 September 1972[40]
40 Nigeria 18 January 1973[41]
41 Egypt 9 April 1973[42]
42 Algeria 8 September 1973[43]
43 Serbia 4 October 1973[44]
44 Russia 15 October 1973[45]
45 Libya 1 November 1973[46]
46 United Arab Emirates 6 January 1974[47]
47 Brazil 11 January 1974[48]
48 Argentina 22 January 1974[49]
49 North Korea 29 January 1974[50]
50 Saudi Arabia January 1974[51]
51 Pakistan February 1974[52]
52 Cuba 26 March 1974[53]
53 China 20 April 1974[54]
54 Greece April 1974[51]
55 Albania 16 November 1974[55]
56 Iran 26 November 1974[56]
57 Vietnam 9 January 1975[57]
58 Portugal 30 January 1975[58]
59 Liberia 17 June 1975[59]
60 Uganda 4 July 1975[60]
61 Syria 18 July 1975[61]
62 Zambia 18 July 1975[62]
63 Kuwait 27 October 1975[63]
64 Bahrain 8 November 1975[64]
65 Venezuela 11 November 1975[65]
66 São Tomé and Príncipe 1975[66]
67 Mexico 10 March 1976[67]
68 Thailand 1 April 1976[68]
69 Bulgaria 15 May 1976[69]
70 Philippines 6 July 1976[70]
71 Kenya 10 July 1976[71]
72 Czech Republic 4 October 1976[72]
73 Poland 16 October 1976[73]
74 Burundi 23 October 1976[74]
75 Guinea 30 October 1976[75]
76 Bangladesh 1976[76]
77 Rwanda 1976[77]
78 Chile 29 September 1978[78]
79 Angola 26 April 1979[79]
80 Qatar 25 November 1979[80]
81 Ecuador 11 November 1980[81]
82 Oman 30 March 1981[81]
83 Colombia 14 July 1981[82]
84 Ghana September 1981[83]
85 Haiti 14 October 1981[84]
86 Indonesia 3 June 1982[85]
87 Uruguay 14 June 1982[86]
88 Mauritius August 1983[87]
89 Australia 19 September 1983[88]
90   Nepal 17 June 1985[89]
91 Yemen 21 August 1985[90]
92 Cambodia 1985[91]
93 Finland 1 July 1988[81]
94 Cyprus 21 October 1988[92]
95 Hungary 24 October 1988[81]
— State of Palestine 7 April 1989[93]
96 Zimbabwe 27 August 1990[94]
97 South Africa 15 October 1992[95]
98 Ukraine 1 September 1993[96]
99 Lithuania 3 March 1994[97]
100 Armenia 9 March 1994[98]
101 Slovakia 14 July 1994[99]
102 Jamaica 23 October 1995[81]
103 Azerbaijan 1 October 1996[100]
104 Latvia 31 October 1996[101]
105 Seychelles 14 November 1996[102]
106 Belarus 5 December 1996[103]
107 Slovenia 11 December 1996[104]
108 Brunei June 1997[105]
109 North Macedonia 13 November 2000[106]
110 Croatia 22 October 2001[81]
111 Malaysia 2001[107]
112 Iceland 27 March 2005[108]
113 Andorra 28 March 2006[81]
114 Botswana 21 December 2006[81]
115 Singapore 6 February 2007[81]
116 Estonia 13 July 2007[109]
117 Maldives 20 March 2008[81]
118 Kazakhstan 23 May 2009[110]
119 Ireland 15 December 2009[111]
120 Monaco 28 March 2011[112]
121 Georgia 19 September 2011[81]
122 Bosnia and Herzegovina 21 September 2011[81]
123 Namibia 17 October 2012[113]
124 Montenegro 12 November 2012[81]
125 Mozambique 5 December 2012[114]
126 Cape Verde 7 December 2012[115]
— Kosovo 9 March 2014[116]
127 Mongolia 15 September 2014[81]
128 Saint Kitts and Nevis 5 January 2018[117]
129 Dominican Republic 17 March 2021[81]
130 Sri Lanka 19 March 2021[81]
131 Gambia 1 November 2021[118]
132 Nicaragua 14 June 2021[81]
133 Tuvalu 24 June 2022[119]
134 Djibouti 28 November 2022[120]
135 Guatemala 31 December 2022[121]
136 Dominica 14 March 2023[122]
137 Peru 3 August 2023[123]
138 Belize 17 September 2025[81]
139 Kyrgyzstan 23 September 2025[124]
140 Guinea-Bissau Unknown
141 Iraq Unknown
142 Mauritania Unknown[125]
143 Sierra Leone Unknown[126]
144 Tanzania Unknown
Close

Bilateral relations

More information Country, Formal Relations Began ...
Country Formal Relations Began Notes
CanadaFebruary 1962

Both countries established diplomatic relations in February 1962[127]

China20 April 1974See China–Gabon relations

On 20 April 1974, China established diplomatic relations with Gabon.[129]

  • China has an embassy in Libreville.
  • Gabon has an embassy in Beijing.
France18 August 1960See France–Gabon relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 18 August 1960[130]

Since independence, Gabon has been "one of France's closest allies in Africa".[131] As of 2008, around 10,000 French nationals lived and worked in Gabon, while the 6th Marine Infantry Battalion of the French military is also stationed there.

  • France has an embassy in Libreville and a consulate-general in Port-Gentil.
  • Gabon has an embassy in Paris.
IndiaSee Gabon–India relations
Mexico10 March 1976Both countries established diplomatic relations on 10 March 1976[134]
  • Gabon is accredited to Mexico from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States.[135]
  • Mexico is accredited to Gabon from its embassy in Abuja, Nigeria.[136]
South Korea 1 October 1962 See Gabon–South Korea relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 October 1962[137]

Spain25 February 1964See Gabon–Spain relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 25 February 1964[138]

  • Gabon has an embassy in Madrid.
  • Spain has an embassy in Libreville.
Turkey1 February 1963See Gabon–Turkey relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 February 1963 when accredited first Ambassador of Turkey to Gabon (resident in Lagos) Fehmi Nuza.[139]

  • Gabon has an embassy in Ankara.[140]
  • Turkey has an embassy in Libreville.[140]
  • Trade volume between the two countries was US$38.9 million in 2018.[140]
United Kingdom9 December 1960See Gabon–United Kingdom relations

Gabon established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 9 December 1960.[141][failed verification]

Both countries share common membership of the Atlantic Co-operation Pact,[144] Commonwealth, the International Criminal Court, and the World Trade Organization.

United States17 August 1960Both countries established diplomatic relations on 17 August 1960[145]

See Gabon–United States relations

Embassy of Gabon in Washington, D.C.

Relations between the United States and Gabon are excellent. In 1987, President Omar Bongo made an official visit to Washington, DC. In September 2002, Secretary of State Colin Powell made a brief but historic visit to Gabon to highlight environmental protection and conservation in the Central Africa region. This was followed by a visit to the White House by President Bongo in May 2004. The United States imports a considerable percentage of Gabonese crude oil and manganese, and exports heavy construction equipment, aircraft, and machinery to Gabon. Through a modest International Military Education and Training program, the United States provides military training to members of the Gabonese armed forces each year. Other bilateral assistance includes the funding of small grants for qualified democracy and human rights, self-help, and cultural preservation projects. U.S. private capital has been attracted to Gabon since before its independence.

Close

See also

References

Related Articles

Wikiwand AI