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Foreign relations of Tunisia

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Former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali has maintained Tunisia's long-time policy of seeking good relations with the West, while playing an active role in Arab and African regional bodies. President Habib Bourguiba took a nonaligned stance but emphasized close relations with Europe, Pakistan, and the United States.

Diplomatic relations

List of countries which Tunisia maintains diplomatic relations with:

More information #, Country ...
# Country Date[1]
1 France 20 March 1956[2]
2 Egypt 2 May 1956[3]
3 Syria 2 June 1956[4]
4 United States 6 June 1956[5]
5 United Kingdom 19 June 1956[6]
6 Italy 20 June 1956[7]
7 Libya 22 June 1956[8]
8 Japan 26 June 1956[9]
9 Saudi Arabia June 1956
10 Russia 11 July 1956[10][11]
11 Morocco 18 July 1956[12]
12 Bulgaria 30 August 1956[13]
13 Hungary 31 August 1956[14]
14  Switzerland 30 October 1956[15]
15 Germany 7 December 1956[16]
16 Greece 1956
17 Jordan 1956[17]
18 Serbia 13 February 1957[18]
19 Belgium 21 May 1957[19]
20 Portugal 21 May 1957[20]
21 Spain 8 July 1957[21]
22 Turkey 22 July 1957[22]
23 Canada 9 September 1957[23]
24 Lebanon October 1957[24]
25 Iran 5 November 1957[25]
26 Liberia 1957
27 Malaysia 1957
28 Netherlands February 1958[26]
29 Pakistan 25 March 1958[27]
30 India 2 April 1958[28]
31 Ghana 11 June 1958[29]
32 Norway 29 August 1958[30]
33 Sweden 14 October 1958[31]
34 Finland 17 July 1959[32]
35 Czech Republic 29 July 1959[33]
36 Denmark 1 September 1959[34]
37 Cuba 23 September 1959[35]
38 Brazil 7 October 1959[36]
39 Poland 15 November 1959[37]
40 Sudan 29 November 1959[38]
41 Austria 1959
42 Iraq 1959
43 Indonesia 12 November 1960[39]
44 Cameroon 18 February 1961[40]
45 Ivory Coast 22 March 1961[41]
46 Mauritania 29 April 1961[42]
47 Chile 6 October 1961[43]
48 Argentina 11 October 1961[44]
49 Mexico 16 November 1961[45]
50 Republic of the Congo 1961
51 Kuwait 24 June 1962[46]
52 Guinea 30 June 1962[47]
53 Ethiopia 31 July 1962[48]
54 Algeria 13 November 1962[49]
55 Democratic Republic of the Congo 1962[50]
56 Senegal 1962
57 Romania 16 December 1963[51]
58 Mali 1963
59 China 10 January 1964[52]
60 Luxembourg 28 April 1964[53]
61 Burkina Faso 1964
62 Venezuela 26 March 1965[54]
63 Uruguay 16 September 1965[55]
64 Togo 1965
65 Benin 22 December 1966[56]
66 Thailand 2 February 1967[57]
67 Peru 30 May 1967[58]
68 Malta 21 December 1967[59]
69 Chad 25 January 1968[60]
70 Niger 24 April 1968[61]
71 Kenya 26 November 1968[62]
72 Tanzania 2 December 1968[63]
73 Uganda 9 December 1968[63]
74 Madagascar 12 March 1969[64]
75 South Korea 31 March 1969[65]
76 Somalia July 1969[24]
77 Nigeria 15 January 1970[66]
78 Iceland 14 May 1970[67]
79 Central African Republic 19 January 1971[68]
80 Gabon 10 July 1971[69]
81 Oman December 1971[70]
82 Rwanda 1971
— Holy See 22 March 1972[71]
83 United Arab Emirates 14 June 1972[72]
84 Qatar 20 June 1972[73]
85 Bahrain 25 June 1972[74]
86 Vietnam 15 December 1972[75]
87 Gambia 28 December 1972[76]
88 Equatorial Guinea 1972
89 Zambia 1972
90 Bangladesh 17 July 1973[77]
91 Albania 8 October 1973[78]
92 Costa Rica 15 October 1973[79]
93 Ireland 16 January 1975[80]
94 North Korea 3 August 1975[81]
95 Philippines 15 December 1975[82]
96 Mozambique 1975
97 Mauritius 9 February 1976[83]
98 Comoros 1976[84]
99 Mongolia 15 February 1977[85]
100 Australia 17 February 1977[86]
101 Djibouti 1977
102 Ecuador 29 January 1980[87]
103 Angola 28 February 1980[88]
104 Burundi 1 March 1980[89]
105 Guinea-Bissau 1980
106 Colombia 20 January 1981[90]
107 Zimbabwe January 1981[91]
108 Sri Lanka 7 December 1981[92]
109 Cape Verde 1981
110 Maldives 10 September 1983[93]
111   Nepal 14 April 1984[94]
112 Singapore 30 November 1984[95]
113 Seychelles 25 August 1986[96]
114 São Tomé and Príncipe 1986
115 Vanuatu 1 November 1988[97]
116 Laos 30 November 1989[98]
117 Namibia 23 March 1990[99]
118 Brunei 1 May 1990[100]
119 Ukraine 24 June 1992[101]
120 Latvia 26 June 1992[102]
121 Estonia 29 June 1992[103]
122 Lithuania 30 June 1992[104]
123 Bosnia and Herzegovina 30 October 1992[97]
124 Botswana 11 November 1992[97]
125 Kazakhstan 23 November 1992[105]
126 Kyrgyzstan 25 November 1992[106]
127 Uzbekistan 26 November 1992[107]
128 Turkmenistan 30 November 1992[108]
129 Slovakia 1 January 1993[109]
130 Croatia 18 January 1993[110]
131 Slovenia 20 May 1993[111]
132 Eritrea 25 October 1993[112]
133 South Africa 2 May 1994[113]
134 Cambodia 12 April 1995[114]
— State of Palestine 19 April 1995[115]
135 Georgia 7 March 1996[116]
136 Belarus 29 January 1997[117]
137 Azerbaijan 1 July 1998[118]
138 Lesotho 1 December 2000[97]
139 Armenia 15 July 2002[97]
140 Moldova 27 September 2004[97]
141 San Marino 17 December 2005[119]
142 Tajikistan 19 June 2006[120]
143 Andorra 20 November 2006[97]
144 Montenegro 7 March 2007[121]
145 El Salvador 14 March 2007[97]
146 Guatemala 19 March 2007[97]
147 Panama 15 June 2007[97]
148 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2 July 2007[122]
149 New Zealand 11 July 2012[123]
150 Bolivia 24 July 2012[124]
151 South Sudan 26 June 2015[125][126]
152 Malawi 3 May 2017[127]
153 Liechtenstein 20 October 2017[128]
154 Monaco 19 September 2018[129]
155 Dominican Republic 27 September 2018[97]
156 Paraguay 1 November 2018[97]
157 Nicaragua 2 July 2019[97]
158 North Macedonia 27 September 2019[97]
159 Jamaica 26 September 2024[97]
160 Trinidad and Tobago 27 September 2025[97]
161 Afghanistan Unknown
162 Cyprus Unknown
163 Eswatini Unknown
164 Sierra Leone Unknown
165 Yemen Unknown
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Bilateral relations

Africa

More information Country, Formal Relations Began ...
Country Formal Relations Began Notes
AlgeriaSee Algeria–Tunisia relations

Tunisia and Algeria resolved a longstanding border dispute in 1993 and have cooperated in the construction of the Trans-Mediterranean natural gas pipeline through Tunisia that connects Algeria to Italy. In 2003 Tunisia and Algeria formed Numhyd, a petroleum company to develop oil resources. It is jointly owned (each 50%) by government corporations, Algeria's Sonatrach and Tunisia's Entreprise Tunisienne d'Activités Pétrolières (ETAP). Recently Tunisia signed an agreement with Algeria in order to demarcate more exactly the maritime frontier between the two countries.

Comoros

Both countries have established diplomatic relations.[130]

Egypt1956[1]See Egypt–Tunisia relations

In the 1950s the President of Tunisia, Habib Bourguiba, criticized on pragmatic grounds the type of Arab nationalism then promoted by Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt, which was a widely popular ideology at the time in the Arabic-speaking countries. Their disagreement also concerned the policies of the Arab League. Bourguiba and Nassar eventually came to find some common ground.[131] Although ties were broken under Nasser, and again under Anwar Sadat, on the whole relations between Egypt and Tunisia have remained mutually beneficial.

After the Tunisian revolution in 2011, Tunisian-Egyptian relations were very good, especially after the 2011 elections in Tunisia, where the Islamic-oriented Ennahda Movement won the elections, as well as the Muslim Brotherhood movement in Egypt won the elections, and also the convergence between the two presidents Moncef Marzouki and Mohamed Morsi. But since the 2013 Egyptian coup d'état, relations became increasingly strained, and between the two and considered Tunisia that what is happening in Egypt is a military coup d'État bloody and protested against it in the United Nations, which led to a diplomatic crisis in relations severed in an indirect way and there is a lack of official visits at all levels. After the 2014 elections in Tunisia and the win of Nidaa Tounes's secular movement, improved relations and exchanged visits between officials and ministers.

  • Egypt has an embassy in Tunis.
  • Tunisia has an embassy in Cairo.
Libya22 June 1956See Libya–Tunisia relations

Tunisia's relations with Libya have been erratic since Tunisia annulled a brief agreement to form a union in 1974. Diplomatic relations were broken in 1976, restored in 1977, and deteriorated again in 1980, when Libyan-trained rebels attempted to seize the town of Gafsa. In 1982, the International Court of Justice ruled in Libya's favor in the partition of the oil-rich continental shelf it shares with Tunisia. Libya's 1985 expulsion of Tunisian workers and military threats led Tunisia to sever relations. Relations were normalized again in 1987. While supporting the United Nations sanctions imposed following airline bombings, Tunisia has been careful to maintain positive relations with its neighbor. Tunisia supported the lifting of UN sanctions against Libya in 2003, and Libya is again becoming a major trading partner. Currently, Tunisia has a maritime dispute with Libya. Tunisia, Algeria and Egypt, in coordination with the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, called in November 2025, for national unity in Libya.[132]

  • Libya has an embassy in Tunis and a consulate-general in Sfax.
  • Tunisia has an embassy in Tripoli and a consulate-general in Benghazi.
Morocco1956[1]See Morocco–Tunisia relations

Trade is increasing between Tunisia and Morocco. Direct maritime shipping commenced between the two countries in 2008 to supplement rail connections that remained uncertain. Also, the stock exchanges of Tunis and Casablanca this year began to jointly list the stock of a Maghriban company, this initial case involving an IPO.[133]

  • Morocco has an embassy in Tunis.
  • Tunisia has an embassy in Rabat.
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Americas

More information Country, Formal Relations Began ...
Country Formal Relations Began Notes
Argentina11 October 1961Both countries established diplomatic relations on 11 October 1961.
Belize

Both countries have passed a number of bilateral agreements.[134]

Brazil1956
  • Brazil has an embassy in Tunis.
  • Tunisia has an embassy in Brasília.
Canada9 September 1957Both countries established diplomatic relations on 9 September 1957.
  • Canada has an embassy in Tunis.
  • Tunisia has an embassy in Ottawa and a consulate in Montreal.
Mexico16 November 1961See Mexico–Tunisia relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 16 November 1961.

  • Mexico is accredited to Tunisia from its embassy in Algiers, Algeria and maintains an honorary consulate in Tunis.[135]
  • Tunisia is accredited to Mexico from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States.[136]
United States6 June 1956See Tunisia–United States relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 6 June 1956[137]

The Embassy of Tunisia in Washington, D.C.

The United States has very good relations with Tunisia, which date back more than 200 years. The United States has maintained official representation in Tunis almost continuously since 1795, and the American Friendship Treaty with Tunisia was signed in 1799. The two governments are not linked by security treaties, but relations have been close since Tunisia's independence. The United States and Tunisia have an active schedule of joint military exercises. U.S. security assistance historically has played an important role in cementing relations. The U.S.-Tunisian Joint Military Commission meets annually to discuss military cooperation, Tunisia's defense modernization program, and other security matters. Since 2015, Tunisia and the United States are partners under the Major non-NATO partnership agreement.

  • Tunisia has an embassy in Washington, D.C.
  • United States has an embassy in Tunis.
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Asia

Tunisia has long been a voice for moderation and realism in the Middle East. Tunisia served as the headquarters of the Arab League from 1979 to 1990 and hosted the Palestine Liberation Organization's (PLO) headquarters from 1982 to 1993, when the PLO Executive Committee relocated to Jericho and the Palestinian Authority was established after the signing of the Oslo Accords. The PLO Political Department remains in Tunis.

Tunisia consistently has played a moderating role in the negotiations for a comprehensive Middle East peace. In 1993, Tunisia was the first Arab country to host an official Israeli delegation as part of the Middle East peace process and maintained an Interests Section until the outbreak in 2000 of the Intifada. Israeli citizens of Tunisian descent may travel to Tunisia on their Israeli passports.

More information Country, Formal Relations Began ...
Country Formal Relations Began Notes
ArmeniaSee Armenia–Tunisia relations
  • Armenia is accredited to Tunisia from its embassy in Cairo, Egypt.
  • Tunisia is accredited to Armenia from its embassy in Moscow, Russia.
Azerbaijan 1 July 1998 See Azerbaijan-Tunisia relations
  • Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Tunisia were established on July 1, 1998.[118]
  • Relations between Azerbaijan and Tunisia have been developed within the framework of international organizations, including the UN and OIC.[118]
  • Azerbaijan is accredited to the Republic of Tunisia through its ambassador in the Kingdom of Morocco.[118]
China10 January 1964See China–Tunisia relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 10 January 1964[138]

  • China has an embassy in Tunis.
  • Tunisia has an embassy in Beijing.
IndiaSee India–Tunisia relations
  • India has an embassy in Tunis.
  • Tunisia has an embassy in New Delhi.
IranSee Iran–Tunisia relations

In May, 2005, Tunisia signed with Iran an agreement for cooperation in air, sea, and road transportation. It was signed on the visit of Tunisian minister Abderrahim Zouari to Iran.[139]

  • Iran has an embassy in Tunis.
  • Tunisia has an embassy in Tehran.
IsraelSee Israel–Tunisia relations
  • Israel had an interest office in Tunis between 1996 and 2000.
  • Tunisia had an interest office in Tel Aviv between 1996 and 2000.
Japan

Tunisia and Japan have a visa agreement, Tunisian people traveling to Japan and Japanese people traveling to Tunisia do not need a visa, as long as their stay do not exceed 3 months. Japan also supports Tunisia, with equipment and money donations. Both countries had friendly relations since Tunisia's independence in 1956. Since 2015, Tunisia and Japan are allies under the Major non-NATO ally agreement.

  • Japan has an embassy in Tunis.
  • Tunisia has an embassy in Tokyo.
Lebanon

Tunisia and Lebanon share historical and civilizational ties. In June, 2010, the Tunisian Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi and his Lebanese counterpart Mr. Saad Hariri chaired a Tunisian-Lebanese working session. Both countries want to energize the process for the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership. In addition, Tunisia reaffirmed its support of Lebanon.[140]

  • Lebanon has an embassy in Tunis.
  • Tunisia has an embassy in Beirut.
Pakistan28 May 1958See Pakistan–Tunisia relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 28 May 1958.[3]

  • Pakistan has an embassy in Tunis.
  • Tunisia has an embassy in Islamabad.
QatarSee Qatar–Tunisia relations

Qatar is among the largest Arab investors in Tunisia.[141] Relations between Qatar and Tunisia improved immensely between 2011 and 2013, when Ennahda Movement-affiliated candidate Hamadi Jebali was declared Prime Minister of Tunisia in the 2011 Tunisian Constituent Assembly elections. Cooperation in all fields gradually started picking up traction; for instance, the two governments signed ten bilateral agreements in 2012.[142]

  • Qatar has an embassy in Tunis.
  • Tunisia has an embassy in Doha.
Saudi ArabiaSee Saudi Arabia–Tunisia relations

In July 2010, a Tunisian-Saudi non-double taxation agreement was signed in Tunis, by Finance Minister Ridha Chalghoum and his Saudi counterpart Ibrahim Bin Abdulaziz Al-Assaf. The two ministers said this convention will certainly help boost trade exchanges between Tunisia and Saudi Arabia, stimulate investments, and favour exchange of expertise between the two countries.

In particular, it will further the Tunisian-Saudi Investment and Development Bank "STUSID Bank" in developing financial co-operation and the contribution of the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) to boost the development process in Tunisia. The minister highlighted the importance of drawing on the two countries' expertise in the tax and customs field and set up a joint action plan to strengthen co-operation.[143]

  • Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Tunis.
  • Tunisia has an embassy in Riyadh and a consulate-general in Jeddah.
Syria2 June 1956

The 11th session of the Tunisian-Syrian High Joint Committee met in Tunis in May 2010. The two countries share experience and information on such issues as housing, shipping, and tourism.[144]

  • Syria has an embassy in Tunis.
  • Tunisia has an embassy in Damascus.
  • Tunisia ceased to recognise the government of Syria on 4 February 2012. During his tenure, Hamadi Jebali, the Prime Minister, called on fellow Arab states to follow its lead: "We have to expel the Syrian ambassadors from Arab countries."[145]
  • In 2019, France24 speculated that new president Kais Saied could renew his country's diplomatic relations with Syria.[146]
  • Following the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake, President Saied decided to strengthen diplomatic ties with Syria.[147]
Turkey1956[148]See Tunisia–Turkey relations
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Europe

More information Country, Formal Relations Began ...
Country Formal Relations Began Notes
Austria
  • Austria has an embassy in Tunis.
  • Tunisia has an embassy in Vienna.
Bulgaria1956
Croatia1993-01-30
  • Croatia is accredited to Tunisia from its embassy in Rabat, Morocco and maintains an honorary consulate in Tunis.
  • Tunisia is accredited to Croatia from its embassy in Vienna, Austria and maintains an honorary consulate in Zagreb.
  • Both countries are full members of the Union for the Mediterranean.
Cyprus1999
Denmark
Finland17 July 1959
FranceSee France–Tunisia relations

Tunisia and France retain a special relationship due to their history, geographic location, and economic relationship. In France there is a sizeable Tunisian diaspora, and the French language is widely used in Tunisia. Business and government connections are extensive and mutually maintained. Ranked by country, France receives the largest amount of Tunisian exports, and France is number-one regarding Tunisian imports also. In recent years many French companies have re-localized production to Tunisia.

Germany
  • Germany has an embassy in Tunis.
  • Tunisia has an embassy in Berlin.
Greece See Greece–Tunisia relations
  • Greece has an embassy in Tunis.
  • Tunisia has an embassy in Athens.
Italy20 June 1956See Italy–Tunisia relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 20 June 1956.[154]

  • Italy has an embassy in Tunis.
  • Tunisia has an embassy in Rome, a consulate-general in Palermo and consulates in Genoa, Milan and Naples.
Malta21 December 1967See Malta–Tunisia relations
  • Both countries established diplomatic relations on 21 December 1967.
  • Malta has an embassy in Tunis.
  • Tunisia has an embassy in Valletta.
  • Both countries are full members of the Union for the Mediterranean.
  • Maltese and Tunisian Arabic are very similar languages. The two countries share very rich historical links.
Netherlands
  • the Netherlands has an embassy in Tunis.
  • Tunisia has an embassy in The Hague.
PolandSee Poland–Tunisia relations
  • Poland has an embassy in Tunis.
  • Tunisia has an embassy in Warsaw.
Portugal
  • Portugal has an embassy in Tunis.
  • Tunisia has an embassy in Lisbon.
Romania1963
Russia1956See Russia–Tunisia relations
  • Russia has an embassy in Tunis.
  • Tunisia has an embassy in Moscow.
SpainSee Spain–Tunisia relations
  • Spain has an embassy in Tunis.
  • Tunisia has an embassy in Madrid.
SwedenSee Sweden–Tunisia relations
  • Sweden has an embassy in Tunis.
  • Tunisia has an embassy in Stockholm.
Ukraine
  • Tunisia is accredited to Ukraine from its embassy in Warsaw, Poland.
  • Ukraine has an embassy in Tunis.
United Kingdom1956See Tunisia–United Kingdom relations
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy with Tunisian Foreign Minister Mohamed Ali Nafti in Tunis, January 2025.

Tunisia established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 19 June 1956.[6][failed verification]

  • Tunisia maintains an embassy in London.[156]
  • The United Kingdom is accredited to Tunisia through its embassy in Tunis.[157]

Both countries share common membership of the World Trade Organization. Bilaterally the two countries have an Association Agreement,[158] a Double Taxation Convention,[159] and an Investment Agreement.[160]

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Oceania

More information Country, Formal Relations Began ...
Country Formal Relations Began Notes
Australia17 February 1977Both countries established diplomatic relations on 17 February 1977[161]
  • Australia is accredited to Tunisia from its high commission in Valletta, Malta.
  • Tunisia is accredited to Australia from its embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia.
New Zealand 11 July 2012 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 11 July 2012[162]
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