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Foreign relations of Luxembourg

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The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg has long been a prominent supporter of European political and economic integration. In 1921, Luxembourg and Belgium formed the Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union (BLEU) to create an inter-exchangeable currency and a common customs regime. Post-war, Luxembourg became a founding member state of the United Nations, and dropped its policy of neutrality to become a founding member state of NATO. Luxembourg expanded its support for European integration, becoming a founding member state of the Benelux Economic Union (today's Benelux Union), and one of the "inner six" founding member states of the three European Communities; the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), and the European Economic Community (EEC). Subsequently, Luxembourg became a founding member state of the European Union (EU) when the EEC and ECSC were incorporated into it in 1993. Luxembourg is a founding member of the Schengen Area, abolishing internal borders amongst its member states, named after the Luxembourg village where the original agreement — since incorporated into EU law — was signed in 1985. At the same time, the majority of Luxembourgers have consistently believed that European unity makes sense only in the context of a dynamic transatlantic relationship, and thus have traditionally pursued a pro-NATO, pro-US foreign policy.

Luxembourg is the site of the European Court of Justice, the European Investment Bank, the European Court of Auditors, the secretariat of the European Parliament, the Statistical Office of the European Commission (Eurostat), and other EU bodies.

Diplomatic relations

List of countries which Luxembourg maintains diplomatic relations with:

More information #, Country ...
# Country Date
1 France 10 December 1890[1]
2 Italy 7 February 1891[2]
— Holy See 9 February 1891[3]
3 Spain 9 February 1891[4]
4 Netherlands 23 February 1891[5]
5 Russia 7 March 1891[6]
6 Portugal 21 May 1891[7]
7 United Kingdom 8 June 1891[3]
8 Belgium 18 April 1892[2]
9 United States 17 July 1903[8]
10 Denmark 4 June 1906[9]
11 Romania 5 December 1910[10]
12 Brazil 15 April 1911[11]
13  Switzerland 24 November 1917[12]
14 Poland 18 April 1921[13]
15 Finland 25 October 1921[14]
16 Czech Republic 24 April 1922[15]
17 Sweden 25 January 1923[16]
18 Hungary 17 July 1923[17]
19 Guatemala 7 November 1924[18]
20 Serbia 23 August 1927[19]
21 Japan 27 November 1927[20]
22 Norway 15 April 1931[21]
23 Greece 13 December 1933[22]
24 Uruguay 6 January 1934[23]
25 Egypt 14 November 1935[24]
26 Iran 23 May 1936[25]
27 Austria 17 November 1936[26]
28 Argentina 28 June 1937[27]
29 Chile 22 January 1938[28]
30 Cuba 25 November 1942[29]
31 Canada 3 January 1945[30]
32 Turkey 10 July 1946[31]
33 Philippines 26 August 1946[32]
34 Mexico 8 January 1947[33]
35 Monaco 18 December 1947[34]
36 India 1 July 1948[35]
37 South Africa 1949[36]
38 Venezuela 14 March 1950[37]
39 Israel 21 November 1950[38]
40 Lebanon 21 November 1950[39]
41 Germany 23 April 1951[40]
42 Indonesia 8 January 1952[41]
43 Iraq 12 March 1952[42]
44 Syria 24 July 1953[43]
45 Ecuador 24 April 1956[44]
46 Bulgaria 16 December 1956[45]
47 Malaysia 1957[46]
48 Morocco 11 April 1958[47]
49 Pakistan 5 May 1959[48]
50 Thailand 16 June 1959[49]
51 Liberia 20 January 1961[50]
52 Mauritania 20 September 1961[51]
53 Gabon 1 December 1961[52]
54 Ireland 20 December 1961[53]
55 South Korea 16 March 1962[54]
56 Cameroon 7 June 1962[55]
57 Peru 14 June 1962[56]
58 Iceland 30 July 1962[57]
59 Guinea 12 September 1962[58]
60 Niger 18 December 1962[59]
61 Jamaica 2 January 1963[60]
62 Burkina Faso 29 January 1963[61]
63 Costa Rica 29 January 1963[61]
64 Ivory Coast 29 January 1963[61]
65 Central African Republic 12 June 1963[62]
66 Algeria 21 January 1964[63]
67 Chad 28 April 1964[64]
68 Tunisia 28 April 1964[64]
69 Rwanda 27 October 1964[65]
70 Paraguay 26 February 1965[66]
71 Burundi 29 April 1965[67]
72 Democratic Republic of the Congo 7 September 1965[68]
73 Mali 15 December 1965[69]
74 Madagascar 13 January 1967[70]
75 Republic of the Congo 10 June 1967[71]
76 Ghana 21 February 1968[72]
77 Senegal 13 June 1968[73]
78 Benin 17 September 1968[74]
79 Malta 28 January 1969[75]
80 Trinidad and Tobago 17 December 1969[76]
81 Cyprus 3 March 1970[77]
82 Australia 18 September 1970[78]
83 Sierra Leone 13 October 1970[79]
84 New Zealand 3 December 1970[80]
85 Fiji January 1971[81]
86 Colombia 21 April 1971[82]
87 Albania 15 February 1972[83]
88 Togo 7 March 1972[84]
89 Sri Lanka 27 July 1972[85]
90 China 16 November 1972[86]
91 Mauritius 28 February 1973[87]
92 Vietnam 15 November 1973[88]
93 Bangladesh 20 November 1973[89]
94 Jordan 5 December 1973[90]
95 Singapore 17 March 1975[91]
96 Gambia 15 April 1975[92]
97   Nepal 27 November 1975[93]
98 Nigeria 29 December 1975[94]
99 Nicaragua 7 July 1976[95]
100 Mongolia 11 July 1976[96]
101 Tonga 1 November 1976[97]
102 Cape Verde 31 March 1977[98]
103 Barbados 5 May 1977[99]
104 Botswana 30 September 1977[100][101]
105 Uganda 30 September 1977[102][103]
106 Papua New Guinea 15 October 1977[104]
107 Saudi Arabia 10 December 1977[105]
108 Comoros 1 February 1978[106]
109 Honduras 6 July 1978[107]
110 Dominica 1 May 1979[108]
111 Guinea-Bissau 7 December 1979[109]
112 Yemen 10 December 1979[110]
113 Kuwait 8 March 1980[111]
114 Bahrain 14 March 1980[112]
115 Ethiopia 19 March 1980[113]
116 Qatar 3 May 1980[114]
117 United Arab Emirates 6 May 1980[114]
118 Oman 15 September 1980[115]
119 Malawi 28 October 1980[116]
120 Tanzania 14 December 1980[117]
121 Zimbabwe 15 December 1981[118]
122 Kenya 15 May 1982[119]
123 Lesotho 15 May 1982[120]
124 Sudan 3 May 1984[121]
125 Panama 12 November 1985[122]
126 Mozambique 7 January 1988[123]
127 Maldives 11 July 1988[107]
128 Seychelles 17 February 1989[107]
129 Bolivia 21 December 1990[107]
130 El Salvador 26 April 1991[107]
131 Estonia 29 August 1991[124]
132 Latvia 29 January 1992[125]
133 Slovenia 11 March 1992[126]
134 Croatia 29 April 1992[127]
135 Tajikistan 22 May 1992[128]
136 Kyrgyzstan 26 May 1992[129]
137 Azerbaijan 1 June 1992[130]
138 Uzbekistan 10 June 1992[131]
139 Armenia 11 June 1992[132]
140 Moldova 16 June 1992[133]
141 Liechtenstein 26 June 1992[134]
142 Kazakhstan 29 June 1992[135]
143 Ukraine 1 July 1992[136]
144 Lithuania 2 July 1992[137]
145 Belarus 9 July 1992[138]
146 Turkmenistan 2 October 1992[139]
147 Slovakia 1 January 1993[140]
148 Marshall Islands 20 July 1993[107]
149 Bosnia and Herzegovina 12 April 1994[141]
150 North Macedonia 19 September 1994[142]
151 Georgia 17 October 1994[143]
152 Andorra 7 April 1995[144]
153 Equatorial Guinea 17 April 1997[145]
154 Laos 25 September 1997[107]
155 San Marino 8 February 2001[146]
156 North Korea 5 March 2001[147]
157 Djibouti 14 June 2001[148]
158 Angola 14 May 2002[107]
159 Cambodia 15 May 2002[107]
160 Brunei 18 July 2003[107]
161 Afghanistan 13 January 2005[107]
162 Dominican Republic 25 May 2005[107]
163 Montenegro 21 September 2006[107]
164 Grenada 1 March 2007[148]
165 Namibia 20 September 2007[148]
166 Antigua and Barbuda 26 September 2007[107]
167 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 26 September 2007[107]
168 Timor-Leste 27 September 2007[107]
169 Bahamas 28 September 2007[107]
170 Eswatini 12 February 2008[148]
171 Haiti 24 February 2008[149]
172 Federated States of Micronesia 24 April 2008[107]
173 Belize 15 May 2008[150]
174 Eritrea 2 October 2008[148]
175 Samoa 2 June 2009[107]
176 Libya 10 June 2009[148]
177 Guyana 17 June 2009[107]
178 Saint Kitts and Nevis 18 June 2009[107]
179 Tuvalu 16 September 2009[107]
180 Saint Lucia 23 September 2009[107]
181 Suriname 1 February 2010[107]
182 Nauru 21 May 2010[107]
183 Vanuatu 24 September 2010[107]
184 Solomon Islands 19 November 2010[107]
— Kosovo 16 June 2011[151]
185 Bhutan 1 December 2011[107]
186 South Sudan 22 December 2011[107]
187 Palau 16 February 2012[107]
188 Myanmar 31 July 2012[107]
189 Somalia 27 September 2013[107]
190 São Tomé and Príncipe 10 April 2014[152]
— State of Palestine 22 September 2025[153][154]
191 Zambia Unknown
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Bilateral relations

Americas

More information Country, Formal Relations Began ...
Country Formal Relations Began Notes
Canada3 January 1945See Canada–Luxembourg relations

Diplomatic relations were established on 3 January 1945[155]

Mexico8 January 1947See Luxembourg–Mexico relations

Diplomatic relations were established on 8 January 1947[158]

In 1980, Prime Minister Pierre Werner paid an official visit to Mexico. In March 1996, Grand Duke Jean paid a visit to Mexico. During the Grand Duke's visit, both nations signed an Air Transportation Agreement. In April 2019, Prime Minister Xavier Bettel paid an official visit to Mexico and met with President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.[159][160]

  • Before having its consulate in Mexico City, Luxembourg is accredited to Mexico from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States and maintains an honorary consulate in Mérida.[161]
  • Mexico is accredited to Luxembourg from its embassy in Brussels, Belgium and maintains an honorary consulate in Luxembourg City.[162]
United States17 July 1903Diplomatic relations were established on 17 July 1903[163]
Embassy of Luxembourg in Washington, D.C.
Main article: Luxembourg–United States relations
See also: List of ambassadors of Luxembourg to the United States

The United States, fighting on the Allied side, contributed to Luxembourg's liberation in World War I and World War II. More than 5,000 American soldiers, including U.S. Army General George S. Patton, are buried at the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial near the capital of Luxembourg City, and there are monuments in many towns to American liberators. The strong U.S.-Luxembourg relationship is expressed both bilaterally and through common membership in NATO, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

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Asia

More information Country, Formal Relations Began ...
Country Formal Relations Began Notes
China16 November 1972Diplomatic relations were established on 16 November 1972[164]

See China–Luxembourg relations

India1 July 1948Diplomatic relations were established on 1 July 1948[35]

See India–Luxembourg relations

  • India has a consulate general in Luxembourg City.
  • Luxembourg has an embassy in New Delhi.[165]
JapanSee Japan–Luxembourg relations
  • Luxembourg has an embassy in Tokyo.[166]
  • Japan has an embassy in Luxembourg City.[167]
PalestineSee Luxembourg–Palestine relations
  • Palestine is accredited to Luxembourg from its mission in Brussels, Belgium.
  • Luxembourg is accredited to Palestine from its Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Luxembourg City.
South Korea16 March 1962
  • Luxembourg and South Korea established diplomatic relations on 16 March 1962.[168]
  • Both countries have a shipping agreement in 1987 and an air agreement in 2003.
  • Luxembourg is accredited to South Korea from its embassy in Tokyo, Japan.
  • South Korea is accredited to Luxembourg from its embassy in Brussels, Belgium.
  • High-level Exchanges.
  • From Luxembourg to the South Korea.
Turkey10 July 1946See Luxembourg–Turkey relations

Diplomatic relations were established on 10 July 1946[170]

Bilateral relations between the Republic of Turkey and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg gained momentum with the opening of a Turkish Embassy in Luxembourg in 1987.[171]

  • Luxembourg has an embassy in Ankara, which was opened on 29 November 2011.[171]
  • Turkey has an embassy in Luxembourg City.

There are 500 ethnic Turk's living in Luxembourg, 200 of whom have dual citizenship. The trade volume between the two States had reached $217 million in 2011.[171]

Luxembourg strongly supports Turkey's candidacy as a full European Union member.[172][173]

Vietnam15 November 1973See Luxembourg–Vietnam relations

Diplomatic relations were established on 15 November 1973[174]

  • Luxembourg is accredited to Vietnam from its embassy in Beijing, China.
  • Vietnam is accredited to Luxembourg from its embassy in Brussels, Belgium.
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Europe

More information Country, Formal Relations Began ...
Country Formal Relations Began Notes
Austria30 January 1891Diplomatic relations were established on 30 January 1891[2]
  • Austria has an embassy in Luxembourg City.
  • Luxembourg has an embassy in Vienna.
  • Both countries are full members of the European Union.
Belgium18 April 1892See Belgium–Luxembourg relations

Diplomatic relations were established on 18 April 1892[2]

  • Belgium has an embassy in Luxembourg City.
  • Luxembourg has an embassy in Brussels.
  • Both countries are full members of the European Union and NATO.
Bulgaria 16 December 1956 Diplomatic relations were established on 16 December 1956[175]
  • Bulgaria is accredited to Luxembourg from its mission in Brussels, Belgium.
  • Luxembourg is accredited to Bulgaria from its mission in Prague, the Czech Republic.
  • Both countries are full members of the European Union and NATO.
Cyprus 3 March 1970 Diplomatic relations were established on 3 March 1970[77]
  • Cyprus is accredited to Luxembourg from its embassy in The Hague, the Netherlands.
  • Luxembourg is accredited to Cyprus from its embassy in Athens, Greece.
  • Both countries are full members of the European Union.
Czech Republic24 April 1922Diplomatic relations were established on 24 April 1922[176]
See also: List of ambassadors of Luxembourg to the Czech Republic
Denmark4 June 1906Diplomatic relations were established on 4 June 1906[179]
Estonia29 August 1991

Luxembourg recognised Estonia on February 22, 1923, and re-recognised Estonia on August 27, 1991.[clarification needed][181] Both countries re-established diplomatic relations on August 29, 1991[182]

In 1937, a prominent Estonian political leader Artur Sirk, while a fugitive in Luxembourg was found dead, having apparently committed suicide by jumping out a second-story window. Although the Luxembourg Gendarmerie report assumed suicide, because of inconsistencies in the report, the Estonian chargé d'affaires in Paris, Rudolph Mollerson was sent to investigate.[183] Estonian historians including Pusta[184] and Tomingas[185] have argued that the death was an act of defenestration by agents of the first President of Estonia, Konstantin Päts.

As of December 31, 2007, foreign investments made in Estonia originating from Luxembourg totaled 225 million EUR accounting for 2% of the total volume of foreign direct investments. There are about 300 Estonians living in Luxembourg.[181] An Estonian cultural association was founded in 1998.[186] Estonian President Arnold Rüütel made a state visit to Luxembourg in May 2003,[181][187] prime minister Andrus Ansip's in 2006.Luxembourgish Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker visited Estonia in 1999 and 2007.

  • Trade agreement between Estonia and Belgium and Luxembourg (1935)[188]
  • Agreement on Road Transport between Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands (came into force 1.12.94)[189]
  • Agreement Between Estonia and the Belgo-Luxembourg Economic Union on the Reciprocal Promotion and Protection of Investments (came into force 23.09.99)[190]
  • Agreement Between Estonia and the States of Benelux on Readmission of Persons (came into force 1.02.05)
  • Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Income and Capital Tax evasion (signed 23.05.2006)[191][192]
  • Estonia is accredited to Luxembourg from its embassy in Brussels, Belgium and maintains an honorary consulate in Luxembourg City.[181] Luxembourg is represented in Estonia through its embassy in Prague (Czech Republic).[181]
  • Luxembourg is accredited to Estonia from its embassy in Prague, Czech Republic.
  • Both countries are full members of the European Union and NATO.
Finland25 October 1921
France15 December 1890See France–Luxembourg relations

Diplomatic relations were established on 15 December 1890[2]

Germany8 January 1891See Germany–Luxembourg relations

Diplomatic relations were established on 8 January 1891[2]

  • Germany has an embassy in Luxembourg City.
  • Luxembourg has an embassy in Berlin.
  • Both countries are full members of the European Union and NATO.
Greece See Greece—Luxembourg relations
Ireland20 December 1961Diplomatic relations were established on 20 December 1961[199]
Italy7 February 1891See Italy–Luxembourg relations

Diplomatic relations were established on 7 February 1891[201]

Kosovo16 June 2011See Kosovo–Luxembourg relations

Diplomatic relations were established on 16 June 2011[204]

Luxembourg recognized the independence of Kosovo on 21 February 2008.[205]

  • Kosovo is accredited to Luxembourg from its embassy in Brussels, Belgium.
  • Luxembourg has an embassy in Pristina.
Lithuania2 July 1992
Netherlands4 March 1891See Luxembourg–Netherlands relations

Diplomatic relations were established on 4 March 1891[2]

  • Luxembourg has an embassy in The Hague.
  • Netherlands has an embassy in Luxembourg City.
  • Both countries are full members of the European Union and NATO.
Poland18 April 1921See Luxembourg–Poland relations

Diplomatic relations were established on 18 April 1921[208]

  • Luxembourg has an embassy in Warsaw.
  • Poland has an embassy in Luxembourg City.
  • Both countries are full members of the European Union and NATO.
Romania5 December 1910

Diplomatic relations were established on 5 December 1910[209]

  • Luxembourg is accredited to Romania from its embassy in Athens, Greece and maintains two honorary consulates (in Bucharest and Sibiu).
  • Romania has an embassy in Luxembourg City.[210]
  • Both countries are full members of the European Union and NATO.
Russia7 March 1891See Luxembourg–Russia relations

Diplomatic relations were established on 7 March 1891[211][2]

  • Luxembourg has an embassy in Moscow and an honorary consulate in Saint Petersburg.
  • Russia has an embassy in the city of Luxembourg City.

Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, and the United Nations.

In the history of bilateral relations, the first Russian president to come on an official visit to Luxembourg was Vladimir Putin on 24 May 2007. As bilateral trade had more than tripled from US$66.6 million in 2003 to US$228.3 million in 2006, time had come to strengthen the ties between the two countries, energy and finance being the key areas of cooperation between Russia and Luxembourg.

Spain18 February 1891See Luxembourg–Spain relations

Diplomatic relations were established on 18 February 1891[2]

  • Luxembourg has an embassy in Madrid.
  • Spain has an embassy in Luxembourg City.
  • Both countries are full members of the European Union and NATO.
Ukraine1 July 1992See Luxembourg–Ukraine relations

Diplomatic relations were established on 1 July 1992[212]

  • Luxembourg is accredited to Ukraine from its embassy in Prague, Czech Republic and through an honorary consulate in Kyiv.
  • Ukraine is accredited to Luxembourg from its embassy in Brussels, Belgium and through an honorary consulate in Luxembourg City.[213]
  • Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe.
United Kingdom1891See Luxembourg–United Kingdom relations
Luxembourger Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn with British Foreign Secretary William Hague in London, January 2011.

Luxembourg established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 8 June 1891.[3][failed verification]

  • Luxembourg maintains an embassy in London.[214]
  • The United Kingdom is accredited to Luxembourg through its embassy in Luxembourg City.[215]

Both countries share common membership of the Council of Europe, European Court of Human Rights, the International Criminal Court, NATO, OECD, OSCE, and the World Trade Organization. Bilaterally the two countries have a Double Taxation Convention.[216]

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Oceania

More information Country, Formal relations began ...
Country Formal relations began Notes
Australia18 September 1970[217] See Australia–Luxembourg relations
  • Australia and Luxembourg formalized diplomatic relations in September 1970 with the first appointment of Australia's ambassador in Brussels as non-resident ambassador to Luxembourg. The first ambassador presented credentials on 13 October 1970. Since then Australia has remained represented in Luxembourg through its embassy in Brussels.
  • Luxembourg is represented in Australia through the embassy of the Netherlands[218] in Canberra and through honorary consulates in Sydney and Melbourne.
  • Trade and investment figure strongly in the bilateral relationship and ministerial visits between the countries have focused on this. Luxembourg ranks as Australia's seventh largest investor (stocks) at A$93 billion in 2021, with Foreign Direct Investments (stocks) of $10 billion in Australia. Two-way goods and services trade in 2020 was valued at A$185 million.[219] There is a reciprocal working holiday visa scheme between the two countries.
New Zealand3 December 1970 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 3 December 1970 when first Ambassador of New Zealand To Luxembourg Mr. Merwyn Norrish presented his credentials[220]
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Relations by organization

NATO

See also: List of Permanent Representatives of Luxembourg to NATO

United Nations

Main article: Luxembourg and the United Nations
See also: Permanent Representative of Luxembourg to the United Nations

See also

References

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