# Foreign relations of Gabon

"none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]]
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:
Date :
| 1 | Japan | 17 August 1960 |
| 2 | United States | 17 August 1960 |
| 3 | France | 18 August 1960 |
| 4 | Belgium | 3 October 1960 |
| 5 | Israel | 15 November 1960 |
| 6 | United Kingdom | 9 December 1960 |
| 7 | Tunisia | 1960 |
| 8 | Netherlands | 24 August 1961 |
| 9 | Luxembourg | 1 December 1961 |
| 10 | Canada | February 1962 |
| 11 | Germany | 13 April 1962 |
| 12 | Lebanon | 24 September 1962 |
| 13 | South Korea | 1 October 1962 |
| 14 | Republic of the Congo | November 1962 |
| 15 | Cameroon | 1 February 1963 |
| 16 | Turkey | 1 February 1963 |
| 17 | Italy | 6 February 1963 |
| 18 | Chad | 3 September 1963 |
| 19 | Mali | 30 October 1963 |
| 20 | Sudan | 1963 |
| 21 | Switzerland | 11 February 1964 |
| 22 | Spain | 25 February 1964 |
| 23 | Central African Republic | 26 March 1964 |
| 24 | Norway | 28 September 1965 |
| 25 | Burkina Faso | 11 November 1965 |
| 26 | Sweden | 1965 |
| 27 | India | 16 July 1966 |
| 28 | Ivory Coast | 30 December 1966 |
| — | Holy See | 31 October 1967 |
| 29 | Ethiopia | 1967 |
| 30 | Niger | 22 April 1968 |
| 31 | Senegal | 17 May 1968 |
| 32 | Togo | 21 June 1968 |
| 33 | Equatorial Guinea | 1968 |
| 34 | Benin | 29 October 1969 |
| 35 | Democratic Republic of Congo | 28 January 1970 |
| 36 | Austria | 1 April 1970 |
| 37 | Morocco | 12 July 1972 |
| 38 | Romania | 21 September 1972 |
| 39 | Nigeria | 18 January 1973 |
| 40 | Denmark | 2 April 1973 |
| 41 | Egypt | 9 April 1973 |
| 42 | Algeria | 8 September 1973 |
| 43 | Serbia | 4 October 1973 |
| 44 | Russia | 15 October 1973 |
| 45 | Libya | 1 November 1973 |
| 46 | United Arab Emirates | 6 January 1974 |
| 47 | Brazil | 11 January 1974 |
| 48 | Argentina | 22 January 1974 |
| 49 | North Korea | 29 January 1974 |
| 50 | Saudi Arabia | January 1974 |
| 51 | Pakistan | February 1974 |
| 52 | Cuba | 26 March 1974 |
| 53 | China | 20 April 1974 |
| 54 | Greece | April 1974 |
| 55 | Albania | 16 November 1974 |
| 56 | Iran | 26 November 1974 |
| 57 | Vietnam | 9 January 1975 |
| 58 | Portugal | 30 January 1975 |
| 59 | Liberia | 17 June 1975 |
| 60 | Uganda | 4 July 1975 |
| 61 | Syria | 18 July 1975 |
| 62 | Zambia | 18 July 1975 |
| 63 | Kuwait | 27 October 1975 |
| 64 | Bahrain | 8 November 1975 |
| 65 | Venezuela | 11 November 1975 |
| 66 | São Tomé and Príncipe | 1975 |
| 67 | Mexico | 10 March 1976 |
| 68 | Thailand | 1 April 1976 |
| 69 | Bulgaria | 15 May 1976 |
| 70 | Philippines | 6 July 1976 |
| 71 | Kenya | 10 July 1976 |
| 72 | Czech Republic | 4 October 1976 |
| 73 | Poland | 16 October 1976 |
| 74 | Burundi | 23 October 1976 |
| 75 | Guinea | 30 October 1976 |
| 76 | Bangladesh | 1976 |
| 77 | Chile | 29 September 1978 |
| 78 | Angola | 26 April 1979 |
| 79 | Qatar | 25 November 1979 |
| 80 | Ecuador | 11 November 1980 |
| 81 | Oman | 30 March 1981 |
| 82 | Colombia | 14 July 1981 |
| 83 | Haiti | 14 October 1981 |
| 84 | Indonesia | 3 June 1982 |
| 85 | Uruguay | 14 June 1982 |
| 86 | Mauritius | August 1983 |
| 87 | Australia | 19 September 1983 |
| 88 | Nepal | 17 June 1985 |
| 89 | Yemen | 21 August 1985 |
| 90 | Finland | 1 July 1988 |
| 91 | Cyprus | 21 October 1988 |
| 92 | Hungary | 24 October 1988 |
| — | State of Palestine | 7 April 1989 |
| 93 | Zimbabwe | 27 August 1990 |
| 94 | South Africa | 15 October 1992 |
| 95 | Ukraine | 1 September 1993 |
| 96 | Lithuania | 3 March 1994 |
| 97 | Armenia | 9 March 1994 |
| 98 | Slovakia | 14 July 1994 |
| 99 | Jamaica | 23 October 1995 |
| 100 | Azerbaijan | 1 October 1996 |
| 101 | Latvia | 31 October 1996 |
| 102 | Seychelles | 14 November 1996 |
| 103 | Belarus | 5 December 1996 |
| 104 | Slovenia | 11 December 1996 |
| 105 | Brunei | June 1997 |
| 106 | North Macedonia | 13 November 2000 |
| 107 | Croatia | 22 October 2001 |
| 108 | Malaysia | 2001 |
| 109 | Iceland | 27 March 2005 |
| 110 | Andorra | 28 March 2006 |
| 111 | Botswana | 21 December 2006 |
| 112 | Singapore | 6 February 2007 |
| 113 | Estonia | 13 July 2007 |
| 114 | Maldives | 20 March 2008 |
| 115 | Kazakhstan | 23 May 2009 |
| 116 | Ireland | 15 December 2009 |
| 117 | Rwanda | 8 October 2010 |
| 118 | Monaco | 28 March 2011 |
| 119 | Georgia | 19 September 2011 |
| 120 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 21 September 2011 |
| 121 | Montenegro | 12 November 2012 |
| 122 | Mozambique | 5 December 2012 |
| 123 | Cape Verde | 7 December 2012 |
| — | Kosovo | 19 March 2014 |
| 124 | Mongolia | 15 September 2014 |
| 125 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 5 January 2018 |
| 126 | Dominican Republic | 17 March 2021 |
| 127 | Sri Lanka | 19 March 2021 |
| 128 | Gambia | 1 November 2021 |
| 129 | Nicaragua | 14 June 2021 |
| 130 | Tuvalu | 24 June 2022 |
| 131 | Djibouti | 28 November 2022 |
| 132 | Guatemala | 31 December 2022 |
| 133 | Dominica | 14 March 2023 |
| 134 | Peru | 3 August 2023 |
| 135 | Cambodia | Unknown |
| 136 | Ghana | Unknown |
| 137 | Guinea-Bissau | Unknown |
| 138 | Iraq | Unknown |
| 139 | Mauritania | Unknown |
| 140 | Namibia | Unknown |
| 141 | Tanzania | Unknown |

## Bilateral relations

| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
| Canada | February 1962 | Both countries established diplomatic relations in February 1962 Gabon has an embassy in Ottawa, and has sent ambassadors since 1971. Canada is accredited to Gabon from its embassy in Yaoundé, Cameroon. |
| China | 20 April 1974 | See China–Gabon relations On 20 April 1974, China established diplomatic relations with Gabon. China has an embassy in Libreville. Gabon has an embassy in Beijing. |
| France | 18 August 1960 | See France–Gabon relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 18 August 1960 Since independence, Gabon has been "one of France's closest allies in Africa". 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. |
| India | | See Gabon–India relations India has an honorary consulate in Libreville. Gabon has an embassy in New Delhi. |
| Mexico | 10 March 1976 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 10 March 1976 Gabon is accredited to Mexico from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States. Mexico is accredited to Gabon from its embassy in Abuja, Nigeria. |
| Spain | 25 February 1964 | See Gabon–Spain relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 25 February 1964 Gabon has an embassy in Madrid. Spain has an embassy in Libreville. |
| Turkey | 1 February 1963 | See Gabon–Turkey relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 February 1963 when accredited first Ambassador of Turkey to Gabon (resident in Lagos) Mr. Fehmi Nuza. Gabon has an embassy in Ankara. Turkey has an embassy in Libreville. Trade volume between the two countries was US$38.9 million in 2018. |
| United Kingdom | 9 December 1960 | See Foreign relations of the United Kingdom Gabon established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 9 December 1960. Gabon maintains a high commission in London. The United Kingdom is accredited to Gabon through an honoury consul in Libreville. Both countries share common membership of the Atlantic co-operation pact, Commonwealth, the International Criminal Court, and the World Trade Organization. |
| United States | 17 August 1960 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 17 August 1960 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. Gabon has an embassy in Washington, D.C. United States has an embassy on Libreville. |