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Foreign relations of Haiti

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Haiti was one of the original members of the League of Nations, and was one of the original members of the United Nations and several of its specialized and related agencies. It is also a founding member of the Organization of American States. Haiti also has diplomatic relations with the Republic of China, commonly known as Taiwan, instead of the People's Republic of China. Taiwan is one of Haiti's major trading partners and the two countries maintain very friendly relations. Haiti has also re-established very warm relations with Cuba in which a major act of bilateral cooperation has resulted in Cuba's large contribution of doctors to the country. The Haitian government has publicly shown admiration to Fidel Castro and his administration.[citation needed]

The international community rallied to Haiti's defense during the 1991 to 1994 period of illegal military rule. Thirty-one countries participated in the U.S.-led Multinational Force (MNF) which, acting under UN auspices, intervened in September 1994 to help restore the legitimate government and create a secure and stable environment in Haiti. At its peak, the MNF included roughly 21,000 troops, mostly Americans, and more than 1,000 international police monitors. Within six months, the troop level was gradually reduced as the MNF transitioned to a 6,000 strong peacekeeping force, the UN Mission in Haiti (UNMIH). UNMIH was charged with maintaining the secure environment, which the MNF had helped establish, as well as nurturing Haiti's new police force through the presence of 900 police advisors. A total of 38 countries participated in UNMIH.

In order to spur Haiti's social and economic recovery from three years of de facto military rule and decades of misrule before that, international development banks and donor agencies pledged in 1994 to provide over US$2 billion in assistance by 1999. Disbursements were largely conditioned on progress in economic reform. Parliamentary inaction, principally as a result of the political struggles and gridlock that plagued Haiti since 1996, resulted in the blockage of much of this assistance as disbursement conditions were not met. The electoral crisis that has brewed in the aftermath of the 21 May 2000 local and parliamentary elections has resulted in the blockage of most multilateral and bilateral assistance. Major donors are led by the United States, with the largest bilateral assistance program, and also include Canada, People's Republic of China, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, South Korea, Republic of China (Taiwan) and the United Kingdom. Multilateral aid is coordinated through an informal grouping of major donors under the auspices of the World Bank which, in addition to the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the European Union, is also a major source of Haitian development assistance.

Visas are required for citizens of Colombia and Panama due to the actions of nationals of those two countries in using Haiti as a drop-off point for narcotic drugs bound for the United States. Panama's proximity to Colombia and their thriving off-shore banking industry has lured many traffickers to use that nation and Haiti as bases for their activities. Citizens of the Dominican Republic also require visas to visit Haiti, not only due to the hostile, sometimes volatile relations between both nations, but also because since the late 1990s, the Dominican Republic has become another base for illicit drugs bound for the United States, which usually enter illegally via Puerto Rico. Once in Puerto Rico, drugs can easily reach the United States due to the absence of both immigration and customs between that island and the mainland.[1]

Disputes – international: claims US-administered Navassa Island

Illicit drugs: major Caribbean transshipment point for cocaine en route to the US and Europe (see Illegal drug trade in Haiti)

Diplomatic relations

List of countries which Haiti maintains diplomatic relations with:

More information #, Country ...
# Country Date
1 France 17 April 1825[2]
2 United Kingdom 1826[3]
3 United States 1 October 1862[4]
5 Venezuela 10 June 1864[5]
6 Dominican Republic 9 November 1874[6]
— Holy See 1881[7]
5 Italy 24 February 1898[8]
7 Belgium 15 January 1902[9]
8 Cuba 3 February 1904[10]
9 Netherlands 21 November 1912[11]
10 Brazil 1928[12]
11 Mexico 11 July 1929[13]
12 Peru 10 October 1929[14]
13 Poland 18 November 1933[15]
14 Chile 26 July 1934[16]
15 Colombia 7 August 1936[17]
16 Argentina 1 February 1939[18]
17 Spain 20 September 1939[19]
18 Sweden 31 March 1941[20]
19  Switzerland 29 September 1941[21]
20 Czech Republic 13 October 1943[22]
21 Norway 28 October 1943[23]
22 Uruguay 5 September 1945[24]
23 Panama 11 October 1945[25]
24 Philippines 6 July 1946[26]
25 Denmark 12 August 1947[27]
— Sovereign Military Order of Malta 1947[28]
26 Guatemala 1948[29]
27 Ecuador 14 November 1949[30]
28 Liberia 8 July 1952[31]
29 Nicaragua 6 August 1952[32]
30 Germany 23 September 1953[33]
31 Canada 12 May 1954[34]
32 Costa Rica 29 September 1955[35]
33 Japan 23 April 1956[36]
— Republic of China 25 April 1956[37]
34 Paraguay 2 October 1956[38]
35 Bolivia 24 November 1957[39]
36 Israel 12 September 1958[40]
37 Turkey 14 November 1958[41]
38 Ethiopia 5 April 1959[42]
39 Lebanon 21 May 1959[43]
40 Egypt 30 November 1960[44]
41 Benin December 1960[45]
42 Ghana February 1961[46]
43 Senegal 4 February 1962[47]
44 Mali 21 August 1962[48]
45 South Korea 22 September 1962[49]
46 Portugal 1965[50]
47 Finland 29 September 1966[51]
48 Guyana 6 October 1970[52]
49 Barbados 5 August 1972[53]
50 Trinidad and Tobago 31 January 1974[54]
51 Iran 16 April 1974[55]
52 Zambia 6 March 1975[56]
53 Bahamas 26 August 1977[57]
54 Nigeria 28 January 1978[58]
55 Libya 18 January 1979[57]
56 Suriname 1 March 1979[59]
57 Saint Lucia 1979[60]
58 Romania 9 May 1980[61]
59 Cameroon 11 January 1981[62]
60 Jamaica 26 August 1981[63]
61 Gabon 14 October 1981[64]
62 Niger 17 December 1981[65]
63 Belize 1982[66]
64 Guinea 10 January 1983[67]
65 Austria 16 December 1983[68]
66 Serbia 20 January 1984[69]
67 Morocco 22 August 1985[70]
68 Bahrain 15 September 1985[71]
69 Democratic Republic of the Congo 1 October 1986[57]
70 Thailand 30 October 1986[57]
71 Ivory Coast 4 September 1987[72]
72 Russia 2 June 1996[57]
73 India 27 September 1996[73]
74 Antigua and Barbuda 11 June 1997[74]
75 Mozambique 25 September 1997[57]
76 Turkmenistan 26 September 1997[57]
77 Slovakia 26 September 1997[75]
78 Vietnam 26 September 1997[57]
79 South Africa 9 December 1997[57]
80 Armenia 21 January 1999[57]
81 Slovenia 30 March 1999[57]
82 Croatia 15 October 1999[57]
83 Belarus 29 October 1999[57]
84 Saudi Arabia 17 January 2000[57]
85 Seychelles 15 October 2000[57]
86 Australia 28 November 2000[76]
87 Singapore 16 February 2001[57]
88 North Macedonia 11 April 2001[57]
89 Malaysia 2001[77]
90 Azerbaijan 9 May 2003[57]
91 Hungary 11 July 2005[57]
92 Iceland 18 November 2005[57]
93 Latvia 14 December 2006[57]
94 Andorra 19 January 2007[57]
95 Burkina Faso 25 January 2007[78]
96   Nepal 23 May 2007[57]
97 Luxembourg 24 February 2008[79]
98 Equatorial Guinea 24 June 2008[80]
99 United Arab Emirates 21 October 2009[57]
100 Estonia 31 March 2010[57]
101 Lithuania 4 May 2010[57]
102 Bosnia and Herzegovina 5 May 2010[57]
103 Ukraine 23 September 2010[57]
104 Georgia 16 December 2011[57]
105 Ireland 26 January 2012[57]
106 Moldova 7 June 2012[57]
107 Honduras 3 August 2012[81]
108 Kuwait 5 September 2012[57]
109 Fiji 16 October 2012[82]
110 Montenegro 17 October 2012[57]
111 Timor-Leste October 2012[83]
112 Tuvalu 7 November 2012[84]
113 Indonesia 21 November 2012[57]
114 Sri Lanka 14 December 2012[57]
115 Qatar 5 August 2013[57]
116 Kazakhstan 20 September 2013[85]
— State of Palestine 27 September 2013[57]
117 Pakistan 10 January 2014[86]
118 Mongolia 14 January 2014[57]
119 New Zealand 4 September 2014[87]
120 Namibia 24 October 2014[88]
121 Tajikistan 9 March 2016[57]
122 El Salvador 6 September 2017[89]
123 Mauritius 13 February 2018[57]
124 Rwanda 15 August 2018[57]
125 Kenya 20 September 2023[90]
126 Dominica Unknown
127 Greece Unknown
128 Grenada Unknown
129 Saint Kitts and Nevis Unknown
130 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Unknown
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Bilateral relations

Africa

More information Country, Formal relations began on ...
Country Formal relations began on Notes
BeninDecember 1960See Benin–Haiti relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations in December 1960 with opened Embassy of Haiti in Dahomey. It was closed in 1963 and reopened in Cotonou in February 2004. Embassy Haiti in Benin was finally closed on 11 December 2018.[45]

Haiti and Benin maintain diplomatic relations with a Haitian office in Cotonou, although Benin does not currently maintain an official diplomatic presence in the country due to the 2010 earthquake. Benin contributed a contingency of 32 police/civilian personnel to MINUSTAH.

The two countries share an extensive cultural history by a way of the Atlantic slave trade and the resulting importing of Haitian Vodou as a religious force in Haitian society. The devastating earthquake was followed, among many reactions, by an outburst of solidarity prayers in Benin with the victims.[91] Traditional ceremonies were organized to appease the spirits and seek the blessing of ancestors for the Haitians.[92]

In December 2018, Haiti closed its embassy in Cotonou.[93] However, the embassy was re-opened in May 2026.[94]

  • Benin does not have an accreditation for Haiti.
  • Haiti has an embassy in Cotonou.[95]
Cote d'Ivoire
  • Haiti has an honorary consulate in Abidjan.[96]
  • Ivory Coast has a liaison office in Port-au-Prince.
Gabon14 October 1981Both countries established diplomatic relations on 14 October 1981 when first ambassador of Haiti to Gabon with residence in Dakar Mr Victor Pierre Louis presented his credentials to President Bongo[64]
  • Gabon is accredited to Haiti from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States.
  • Haiti has an honorary consulate in Libreville.[96]
Kenya20 September 2023See Haiti–Kenya relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 20 September 2023.[97]

Kenya offered to lead the Multinational Security Support Mission to Haiti with a force of 1,000 police officers, and this offer was accepted by the UN Security Council in October 2023.[98]

Haitian prime minister Ariel Henry visited Kenya in March 2024 to sign the agreement to deploy the police officers to Haiti.[99]

Haiti is accredited to Kenya from its embassy in Pretoria. Kenya is accredited to Haiti from its embassy in Havana.

Liberia8 July 1952[31]
  • Haiti and Liberia recognized each other in 1864.[100]
  • The two countries established treaties of friendship and commerce the same year.[100]
Senegal
  • Haiti has an honorary consulate in Dakar.[96]
  • Senegal is accredited to Haiti from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States.
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Americas

More information Country, Formal relations began on ...
Country Formal relations began on Notes
Bahamas26 August 1977Both countries established diplomatic relations on 26 August 1977[101]

See The Bahamas–Haiti relations

  • Haiti has an embassy Nassau.
  • The Bahamas has an embassy in Port-au-Prince.
  • There are over 80,000 Haitians living in the Bahamas.
Brazil1928See Brazil–Haiti relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1928.[102]

Canada12 May 1954Both countries established diplomatic relations on 12 May 1954[105]

See Canada–Haiti relations

During the unsettled period from 1957 to 1990, Canada received many Haitian refugees, who now form a significant minority in Quebec. Canada participated in various international interventions in Haiti between 1994 and 2004, and continues to provide substantial aid to Haiti,[106] the second poorest country in the western hemisphere.[107]

ChileSee Chile–Haiti relations

Chile sent 650 peacekeeping troops to the island as part of the United Nations peace keeping mission.[110] Praising the work of the Chilean policemen in Haiti, National Police official Javiera Blanco said, "Even though today there is a need for the key presence of this mission, which is in mid term, the exit should be prepared for, considering that the country (Haiti) must take those responsibilities and build their capacities to do what is done by our mission." The police are planned to withdraw from Haiti in 2011.[111]

  • Haiti has an embassy in Santiago.
  • Chile has an embassy in Port-au-Prince.
Colombia7 August 1936Both countries established diplomatic relations on 7 August 1936 when Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of Colombia Ricardo Gutiérrez Lee has presented his credentials to Haiti.[112]

See Colombia–Haiti relations

  • Haiti has an embassy in Bogotá.
  • Colombia is accredited to Haiti from its embassy in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Colombia reopened its consulate in Port-au-Prince on December 15, 2023, after 2 decades of consular absence. The Consul is Vilma Velásquez[113]
Cuba3 February 1904Both countries established diplomatic relations on 3 February 1904, which were interrupted on September 28, 1959, and later resumed on February 6, 1996.[114]

See Cuba–Haiti relations

  • Haiti has an embassy in Havana.
  • Cuba has an embassy in Port-au-Prince.
Dominican Republic9 November 1874Both countries established diplomatic relations on 9 November 1874[115]

See Dominican Republic–Haiti relations

Relations between Haiti and the Dominican Republic vacillated between barely tolerable and potentially combustible throughout the history of both countries' existences, reaching their lowest points in the Haitian invasion of the Dominican Republic, the aftermath of the Parsley Massacre, related Haitian-targeted ethnic cleansing campaigns by the Rafael Trujillo dictatorship and the 2010 earthquake in Port-au-Prince. The periodic influxes of Haitian economic (and, in times past, political) migrants across the border have also strained relations between the two countries at various recent times.

Guatemala1948
  • Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1948. [116]

See Haiti–Guatemala relations

Jamaica26 August 1981Both countries established diplomatic relations on 26 August 1981[121]

See Haiti–Jamaica relations

  • Haiti has an embassy in Kingston, but later closed in 2012.[122]
  • Jamaica has an honorary consulate in Port-au-Prince.
Mexico11 July 1929Both countries established diplomatic relations on 11 July 1929[13]

See Haiti–Mexico relations

United States1 October 1862Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 October 1862[125]

See Haiti–United States relations

Venezuela10 June 1864See Haiti–Venezuela relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 10 June 1864.[128]

  • Haiti has an embassy in Caracas.
  • Venezuela has an embassy in Port-au-Prince.
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Asia

More information Country, Formal relations began on ...
Country Formal relations began on Notes
BangladeshSee Bangladesh–Haiti relations

The relations between the two countries have been largely influenced by the role of Bangladeshi peace keepers in Haiti.

China

See China–Haiti relations

Haiti does not recognize China.

  • Haiti has a trade office in Beijing.
  • China has a trade office in Port-au-Prince.
India27 September 1996Both countries established diplomatic relations on 27 September 1996[129]

See Haiti–India relations

Israel11 September 1958Both countries established diplomatic relations on 11 September 1958[134]

See Haiti–Israel relations

Haiti recognized Israel's independence on 17 March 1949.

  • Israel is accredited to Haiti from its embassy in Panama City.
Taiwan25 April 1956Both countries established diplomatic relations on 25 April 1956[37]

See Haiti–Taiwan relations

  • Haiti maintains an embassy in Taipei.
  • Taiwan maintains an embassy in Port-au-Prince.
  • Haitian President Jovenel Moise met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-Wen in Taipei since 2018.
  • Taiwan has offered US$150 million to Haiti for building up its rural power grid following its destruction in the 2010 earthquake.
TurkeyMarch 23, 1943[135]See Haiti–Turkey relations
  • Turkish Embassy in Santo Domingo is accredited to Haiti.[136]
  • Trade volume between the two countries was US$129.7 million in 2019 (Haitian exports/imports: 0.8/128.9 million USD).[136]
  • After the earthquake, Turkey provided financial aid and equipment worth US$124 million.[137]
  • Since 2004, Turkey has provided personnel to MINUSTAH.[138]
Close

Europe

More information Country, Formal relations began on ...
Country Formal relations began on Notes
France12 February 1838See France–Haiti relations
GermanySee Germany–Haiti relations
  • Haiti has an embassy in Berlin.
  • Germany has an embassy in Port-au-Prince.
PolandSee Haiti–Poland relations
  • Haiti is accredited to Poland from its embassy in Berlin, Germany.
  • Poland is accredited to Haiti from its embassy in Panama City, Panama, and there is an honorary consulate of Poland in Port-au-Prince.
Spain20 December 1939See Haiti–Spain relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 20 December 1939 when first Chargé d'Affaires ad interim of Spain to Haiti (Resident in Ciudad Trujillo) Mr. Rafael de los Casares Moya presented his credentials.[141]

  • Haiti has an embassy in Madrid.
  • Spain has an embassy in Port-au-Prince.[142]
United Kingdom13 May 1859Both countries established diplomatic relations on 13 May 1859 when has been appointed first British Chargé d'Affaires and Consul General to Haiti Thomas Neville Ussher.[143]

See Haiti–United Kingdom relations

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Multilateral membership

See also

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