# Foreign relations of Botswana

Botswana has put a premium on economic and political integration in southern Africa. It has sought to make the Southern African Development Community (SADC) a working vehicle for economic development, and it has promoted efforts to make the region self-policing in terms of preventive diplomacy, conflict resolution, and good governance.

## Diplomatic relations

List of countries which Botswana maintains diplomatic relations with:
Date :
| 1 | United Kingdom | 30 September 1966 |
| 2 | Japan | 30 September 1966 |
| 3 | United States | 30 September 1966 |
| 4 | Germany | 1 October 1966 |
| 5 | Zambia | 28 November 1966 |
| 6 | France | 2 February 1967 |
| 7 | Philippines | 6 February 1967 |
| 8 | Malawi | 1 July 1967 |
| 9 | Netherlands | 10 August 1967 |
| 10 | Switzerland | 22 August 1967 |
| 11 | Ethiopia | 19 October 1967 |
| 12 | Kenya | 30 October 1967 |
| 13 | Norway | 30 November 1967 |
| 14 | South Korea | 18 April 1968 |
| 15 | Austria | 5 December 1968 |
| 16 | Canada | 19 December 1968 |
| 17 | Nigeria | 1968 |
| 18 | Czech Republic | 2 March 1970 |
| 19 | Russia | 17 March 1970 |
| 20 | Serbia | 5 September 1970 |
| 21 | Sweden | 19 December 1970 |
| 22 | Italy | 1970 |
| 23 | Denmark | 24 September 1971 |
| 24 | Romania | 7 October 1971 |
| 25 | Belgium | 9 November 1971 |
| 26 | Tanzania | 29 November 1971 |
| 27 | India | 5 December 1972 |
| 28 | Israel | December 1972 |
| 29 | Egypt | 7 March 1973 |
| 30 | Lesotho | April 1973 |
| 31 | Australia | 9 July 1973 |
| — | North Korea (suspended) | 27 December 1974 |
| 32 | China | 6 January 1975 |
| 33 | Guyana | 28 October 1975 |
| 34 | Mexico | 5 December 1975 |
| 35 | Mozambique | 1975 |
| 36 | Angola | 18 February 1976 |
| 37 | Libya | 14 March 1977 |
| 38 | Eswatini | 20 May 1976 |
| 39 | Cuba | 9 December 1977 |
| 40 | Argentina | 28 March 1978 |
| 41 | Greece | 10 April 1978 |
| 42 | Finland | 1 July 1978 |
| 43 | Poland | 22 November 1978 |
| 44 | Ghana | 21 May 1979 |
| 45 | Portugal | 21 April 1980 |
| 46 | Hungary | 30 April 1980 |
| 47 | Turkey | 20 January 1981 |
| 48 | Spain | 29 April 1981 |
| 49 | Jamaica | 4 May 1982 |
| 50 | Bulgaria | 16 August 1982 |
| 51 | Albania | 30 August 1982 |
| 52 | Zimbabwe | 31 May 1983 |
| 53 | Bangladesh | 21 June 1983 |
| 54 | Thailand | 29 November 1985 |
| 55 | Brazil | 26 September 1985 |
| 56 | Iraq | 10 July 1986 |
| 57 | Pakistan | 20 August 1986 |
| 58 | New Zealand | 1987 |
| 59 | Seychelles | 30 September 1988 |
| 60 | Iran | September 1988 |
| 61 | Vanuatu | 1 November 1988 |
| 62 | Uganda | 9 March 1989 |
| 63 | Colombia | 25 April 1989 |
| 64 | Somalia | 15 March 1990 |
| 65 | Iceland | 5 April 1990 |
| 66 | Namibia | 26 July 1990 |
| 67 | Malaysia | 26 November 1990 |
| 68 | Tunisia | 11 November 1992 |
| 69 | Singapore | 30 August 1993 |
| 70 | South Africa | 22 June 1994 |
| 71 | Kuwait | 10 June 1996 |
| 72 | Ireland | 1996 |
| 73 | Chile | 13 October 1997 |
| 74 | Trinidad and Tobago | 11 May 1998 |
| 75 | Bahamas | 13 September 2000 |
| 76 | Slovakia | 29 March 2001 |
| 77 | Mauritius | 11 April 2002 |
| 78 | Latvia | 17 March 2003 |
| 79 | Estonia | 3 June 2003 |
| 80 | Lithuania | 17 February 2004 |
| 81 | Ukraine | 4 March 2004 |
| 82 | Rwanda | September 2004 |
| 83 | Malta | 6 January 2005 |
| 84 | Cyprus | 22 February 2005 |
| 85 | Morocco | 27 June 2005 |
| 86 | Slovenia | 20 July 2005 |
| 87 | Madagascar | August 2005 |
| 88 | Croatia | 9 September 2005 |
| 89 | Belarus | 15 March 2006 |
| 90 | United Arab Emirates | 28 April 2006 |
| 91 | Luxembourg | 11 May 2006 |
| 92 | Dominican Republic | 6 October 2006 |
| 93 | Republic of the Congo | 9 November 2006 |
| 94 | Qatar | 20 November 2006 |
| 95 | Equatorial Guinea | 13 December 2006 |
| 96 | Barbados | 20 December 2006 |
| 97 | Gabon | 21 December 2006 |
| 98 | Niger | 21 December 2006 |
| 99 | Sudan | 10 January 2007 |
| 100 | Burkina Faso | 12 January 2007 |
| 101 | Benin | 21 February 2007 |
| 102 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 22 February 2007 |
| 103 | Saudi Arabia | 1 March 2007 |
| 104 | Burundi | 13 March 2007 |
| 105 | Djibouti | 14 March 2007 |
| 106 | Guinea | 20 April 2007 |
| 107 | Uruguay | 4 May 2007 |
| 108 | Guatemala | 7 May 2007 |
| 109 | Mauritania | 9 May 2007 |
| 110 | Ecuador | 4 June 2007 |
| 111 | Mali | 5 June 2007 |
| 112 | Ivory Coast | 6 June 2007 |
| 113 | Venezuela | 9 July 2007 |
| 114 | Paraguay | 16 July 2007 |
| 115 | Honduras | 19 July 2007 |
| 116 | Dominica | 23 July 2007 |
| 117 | Nicaragua | 28 August 2007 |
| 118 | Costa Rica | 11 September 2007 |
| 119 | Antigua and Barbuda | 6 December 2007 |
| 120 | Suriname | 6 December 2007 |
| 121 | Belize | 28 February 2008 |
| 122 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 15 September 2008 |
| 123 | Sri Lanka | 27 October 2008 |
| — | Holy See | 4 November 2008 |
| 124 | Nepal | 8 January 2009 |
| 125 | Vietnam | 11 February 2009 |
| 126 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 25 June 2009 |
| 127 | North Macedonia | 4 September 2009 |
| 128 | Panama | 15 December 2009 |
| 129 | Georgia | 15 January 2010 |
| 130 | Samoa | 18 March 2010 |
| 131 | Guinea-Bissau | 22 March 2010 |
| 132 | Montenegro | 16 July 2010 |
| 133 | Liberia | 21 September 2010 |
| 134 | Solomon Islands | 18 November 2010 |
| 135 | Papua New Guinea | 2010 |
| 136 | Monaco | 24 February 2011 |
| 137 | Fiji | 28 June 2011 |
| 138 | South Sudan | 9 July 2011 |
| 139 | Indonesia | 28 March 2012 |
| 140 | Chad | 9 February 2015 |
| 141 | Sierra Leone | 16 February 2015 |
| 142 | Senegal | 16 March 2015 |
| — | State of Palestine | 8 March 2017 |
| — | Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic | 31 May 2018 |
| 143 | Comoros | 26 September 2018 |
| 144 | Togo | 18 March 2021 |
| 145 | Central African Republic | 18 October 2021 |
| 146 | Algeria | 10 August 2022 |
| 147 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 9 February 2023 |
| 148 | Mongolia | 6 December 2023 |
| 149 | Saint Lucia | 6 December 2023 |
| 150 | Tajikistan | 6 December 2023 |
| 151 | Laos | 11 December 2023 |
| 152 | Maldives | 11 December 2023 |
| 153 | Armenia | 14 December 2023 |
| 154 | Azerbaijan | December 2023 |
| 155 | Gambia | 13 February 2024 |
| 156 | Bolivia | 1 August 2024 |
| 157 | Uzbekistan | 26 September 2024 |
| 158 | Kyrgyzstan | 5 March 2025 |

## Bilateral relations

| Country | Formal relations began | Notes |
| Australia | 1973 | Australia is accredited to Botswana from its high commission in Pretoria, South Africa, with an honourary consul in Gaborone. Botswana has a high commission in Canberra and a consulate in Kendall |
| Brazil | 26 September 1985 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 26 September 1985 Botswana has an embassy in Brasília. Brazil has an embassy in Gaborone. |
| China | 6 January 1975 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 6 January 1975 See Botswana–China relations Botswana has an embassy in Beijing. China has an embassy in Gaborone. |
| Greece | 10 April 1978 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 10 April 1978 Botswana is accredited to Greece from its Permanent Representation to the United Nation Office in Geneva, Switzerland. Greece is accredited to Botswana from its embassy in Pretoria, South Africa. |
| Guyana | 28 October 1975 | Both countries have established diplomatic relations on 28 October 1975. Guyana is accredited to Botswana from its Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York City. Both countries are full members of Commonwealth of Nations. |
| India | 17 January 1972 | See Botswana–India relations Botswana has a high commission in New Delhi. India has a high commission in Gaborone. |
| Indonesia | 28 March 2012 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 28 March 2012 Botswana is accredited to Indonesia from its high commission in Canberra, Australia. Indonesia is accredited to Botswana from its embassy in Pretoria, South Africa. |
| Israel | | See Botswana–Israel relations Botswana is accredited to Israel from its high commission London, United Kingdom. Israel is accredited to Botswana from its embassy in Pretoria, South Africa. |
| Kenya | 30 October 1967 | See Botswana–Kenya relations Botswana has a high commission in Nairobi. Kenya has a high commission in Gaborone. |
| Mexico | 5 December 1975 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 5 December 1975 Botswana is accredited to Mexico from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States and maintains an honorary consulate in Mexico City. Mexico is accredited to Botswana from its embassy in Pretoria, South Africa. |
| Namibia | 11 September 1990 | See Botswana–Namibia relations Botswana–Namibia relations are friendly, with the two neighbouring countries cooperating on economic development. Botswana gained independence from Britain in September 1966. Namibia gained independence from South Africa in 1990 following the South African Border War. Botswana has a high commission in Windhoek. Namibia has a high commission in Gaborone. |
| North Korea | 27 December 1974, but severs 19 February 2014 | See Botswana–North Korea relations |
| Russia | 6 March 1970 | See Botswana–Russia relations Botswana and the Soviet Union initiated diplomatic relations on 6 March 1970. Despite its pro-Western orientation, Botswana participated in the 1980 Summer Olympics. The present-day relations between the two countries are described as friendly and long standing. In March, the two countries also celebrated the 35th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations. According to the minister of Foreign Affairs, Russia was one of the first countries to establish full diplomatic relations with Botswana. Trade and economic cooperation between Russia and Botswana are stipulated by the Trade Agreement of 1987 and the Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation of 1988. The Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Botswana signed the Agreement on Cultural, Scientific and Educational Cooperation in September 1999. Russia and Botswana have had fruitful cooperation in a variety of fields, particularly in human resource development. And Russia is still offering more scholarship in key sectors such as health, which is currently experiencing a critical shortage of manpower. Botswana also is one of the countries where Russian citizens do not require a visa. Russia has an embassy in Gaborone, while Botswana covers Russia from its embassy in Stockholm (Sweden) and an honorary consulate in Moscow. |
| South Africa | 22 June 1994 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 22 June 1994 See Botswana–South Africa relations Botswana has a high commission in Pretoria and consulates-general in Cape Town and Johannesburg. South Africa has a high commission in Gaborone |
| South Korea | 18 April 1968 | The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Korea and the Republic of Botswana began on 18 April 1968. In 2011 the number of South Koreans living in Botswana amounted to 163. Since 2014, the government of Botswana recognized ROK as the sole legitimate government of Korea. |
| Turkey | 20 January 1981 | Permanent Representation of Botswana in the UN Geneva Office is also accredited to Turkey. Turkey has an embassy in Gaborone Trade volume between the two countries was US$2.9 million in 2019. |
| United Kingdom | 30 September 1966 | See Botswana–United Kingdom relations Botswana established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 30 September 1966. Botswana maintains a high commission in London. The United Kingdom is accredited to Botswana through its high commission in Gaborone. The UK governed Botswana from 1885 to 1966, when it achieved full independence. Both countries share common membership of the Commonwealth, the International Criminal Court, and the World Trade Organization, as well as the SACUM–UK Economic Partnership Agreement. |
| United States | 30 September 1966 | See Botswana–United States relations Embassy of Botswana in Washington, D.C. The United States considers Botswana an advocate of and a model for stability in Africa and has been a major partner in Botswana's development since its independence. The U.S. Peace Corps returned to Botswana in August 2002 with a focus on HIV/AIDS-related programs after concluding 30 years of more broadly targeted assistance in 1997. Similarly, the USAID phased out a long-standing bilateral partnership with Botswana in 1996, after successful programs emphasizing education, training, entrepreneurship, environmental management, and reproductive health. Botswana, however, continues to benefit along with its neighbours in the region from USAID's Initiative for Southern Africa, now based in Pretoria, and USAID's Southern Africa Global Competitiveness Hub, headquartered in Gaborone. The United States International Board of Broadcasters (IBB) operates a major Voice of America (VOA) relay station in Botswana serving most of the African continent. In 1995, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) started the BOTUSA Project in collaboration with the Botswana Ministry of Health in order to generate information to improve tuberculosis control efforts in Botswana and elsewhere in the face of the TB and HIV/AIDS co-epidemics. Under the 1999 U.S. Government's Leadership and Investment in Fighting an Epidemic (LIFE) Initiative, CDC through the BOTUSA Project has undertaken many projects and has assisted many organizations in the fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Botswana. Botswana is one of the 15 focus countries for PEPFAR, the President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief, and has received more than $230 million since the program began in January 2004 through September 2007. PEPFAR assistance to Botswana, which totalled $76.2 million in FY 2007, is contributing to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and care interventions. The Governments of Botswana and the United States entered into an agreement in July 2000 to establish an International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) in Gaborone. The academy, jointly financed, managed and staffed by the two nations, provides training to police and government officials from across the Sub-Saharan region. The academy's permanent campus, in Otse outside of Gaborone, opened March 2003. Over 3,000 law enforcement professionals from Sub-Saharan Africa have received training from ILEA since it began offering classes in 2001. Botswana has an embassy in Washington, D.C. United States has an embassy in Gaborone. |
| Zimbabwe | 31 May 1983 | See Botswana–Zimbabwe relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 31 May 1983 Botswana still struggles to seal its border from thousands of Zimbabweans who flee economic collapse and political persecution. In 2015, 22,000 Zimbabweans were arrested and deported. This has increased to nearly 29,000 deportations in 2018. Botswana has an embassy in Harare. Zimbabwe has an embassy in Gaborone. |

## Botswana and the Commonwealth of Nations

Botswana has been a republic in the Commonwealth of Nations since independence in 1966.

## Botswana and FOSS

Botswana has been a member of The Forum of Small States (FOSS) since the group's founding in 1992.