# Foreign relations of the Republic of the Congo

For the two decades preceding the Republic of the Congo's 1991 National Conference, the country was firmly in the socialist camp, allied principally with the Soviet Union and other Eastern bloc nations. Educational, economic, and foreign aid links between Congo and its Eastern bloc allies were extensive, with the Congolese military and security forces receiving significant Soviet, East German, and Cuban assistance.
After the worldwide dissolution of the Soviet Union and Congo's adoption of multi-party democracy in 1991, Congo's bilateral relations with its former socialist allies have become relatively less important. France is now by far Congo's principal external partner, contributing significant amounts of economic assistance, while playing a highly influential role.
Congo-Brazzaville is also a member of the International Criminal Court with a Bilateral Immunity Agreement of protection for the US-military.
Membership in international organizations includes the United Nations, Organisation of African Unity, African Development Bank, General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), Economic Commission for Central African States, Central African Customs and Economic Union, International Coffee Organization, Union of Central African States, Intelsat, International Criminal Police Organization - Interpol, Non-Aligned Movement, and Group of 77.
Disputes - international: most of the Congo River boundary with the Democratic Republic of the Congo is indefinite (no agreement has been reached on the division of the river or its islands, except in the Pool Malebo (Stanley Pool) area.

## Diplomatic relations

List of countries which the Republic of the Congo maintains diplomatic relations with:
Date :
| 1 | Germany | 15 August 1960 |
| 2 | United Kingdom | 15 August 1960 |
| 3 | United States | 15 August 1960 |
| 4 | France | 16 August 1960 |
| 5 | Japan | 18 August 1960 |
| 6 | Israel | 9 November 1960 |
| 7 | Netherlands | 3 August 1961 |
| 8 | South Korea | 21 August 1961 |
| 9 | Tunisia | 1961 |
| 10 | Belgium | 20 February 1962 |
| 11 | Canada | February 1962 |
| 12 | Cameroon | 26 November 1962 |
| 13 | Central African Republic | 26 November 1962 |
| 14 | Gabon | November 1962 |
| 15 | Chad | 13 February 1963 |
| — | Holy See | 16 February 1963 |
| 16 | Mali | 20 February 1963 |
| 17 | Algeria | 4 January 1964 |
| 18 | Ghana | 8 February 1964 |
| 19 | China | 22 February 1964 |
| 20 | Russia | 16 March 1964 |
| 21 | Czech Republic | 23 March 1964 |
| 22 | Serbia | 28 March 1964 |
| 23 | Switzerland | 21 April 1964 |
| 24 | Cuba | 10 May 1964 |
| 25 | Vietnam | 16 July 1964 |
| 26 | Egypt | 28 July 1964 |
| 27 | North Korea | 24 December 1964 |
| 28 | Bulgaria | 31 December 1964 |
| 29 | Uganda | 1964 |
| 30 | Italy | 20 April 1965 |
| 31 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 5 November 1965 |
| 32 | Sweden | 1965 |
| 33 | Romania | 21 August 1966 |
| 34 | Mongolia | 31 December 1966 |
| 35 | Finland | 22 March 1967 |
| 36 | Norway | 23 May 1967 |
| 37 | Denmark | 10 June 1967 |
| 38 | Luxembourg | 10 June 1967 |
| 39 | India | 26 August 1967 |
| 40 | Ethiopia | 1967 |
| 41 | Greece | 13 May 1968 |
| 42 | Albania | 23 June 1968 |
| 43 | Guinea | 1 July 1968 |
| 44 | Senegal | 9 April 1969 |
| 45 | Hungary | 14 February 1970 |
| 46 | Sudan | November 1970 |
| 47 | Mauritania | 1970 |
| 48 | Equatorial Guinea | 12 July 1971 |
| 49 | Chile | 1 June 1972 |
| 50 | Spain | 7 December 1972 |
| 51 | Poland | 19 December 1972 |
| 52 | Zambia | 12 January 1973 |
| 53 | Libya | 7 April 1973 |
| 54 | Portugal | 25 January 1975 |
| 55 | Mozambique | 25 June 1975 |
| 56 | Peru | 12 July 1975 |
| 57 | Pakistan | 1975 |
| 58 | Angola | 25 July 1976 |
| 59 | Syria | 10 February 1977 |
| 60 | Cape Verde | 1977 |
| 61 | Austria | 12 July 1978 |
| 62 | Benin | 9 September 1978 |
| 63 | Jamaica | 6 September 1979 |
| 64 | Nicaragua | 12 September 1979 |
| 65 | Morocco | 1979 |
| 66 | Argentina | 2 January 1980 |
| 67 | Ecuador | 12 February 1980 |
| 68 | Brazil | 4 March 1980 |
| 69 | Burundi | 21 December 1980 |
| 70 | Tanzania | 22 October 1981 |
| 71 | Turkey | 9 November 1981 |
| 72 | Rwanda | 17 August 1982 |
| 73 | Grenada | 1 September 1983 |
| 74 | Togo | 6 August 1984 |
| 75 | Djibouti | February 1985 |
| 76 | Iran | 25 November 1986 |
| 77 | Uruguay | 22 September 1987 |
| 78 | Thailand | 25 August 1988 |
| — | State of Palestine | 6 April 1989 |
| 79 | Namibia | 23 March 1990 |
| 80 | Mexico | 1990 |
| — | Sovereign Military Order of Malta | 1992 |
| 81 | South Africa | 22 March 1993 |
| 82 | Slovakia | 30 June 1998 |
| 83 | Saudi Arabia | 1 February 1999 |
| 84 | Ukraine | 3 June 1999 |
| 85 | Bahrain | 9 June 1999 |
| 86 | Colombia | 1 July 1999 |
| 87 | Kazakhstan | 21 September 1999 |
| 88 | Philippines | 19 January 2000 |
| 89 | Qatar | 25 April 2000 |
| 90 | Brunei | 15 May 2000 |
| 91 | Cambodia | 13 September 2000 |
| 92 | Kuwait | 31 October 2000 |
| 93 | North Macedonia | 7 February 2001 |
| 94 | Singapore | 8 February 2001 |
| 95 | Lebanon | 12 April 2001 |
| 96 | Malaysia | 2001 |
| 97 | Belarus | 11 February 2002 |
| 98 | Iceland | 15 December 2004 |
| 99 | Indonesia | 2004 |
| 100 | Lithuania | 5 December 2005 |
| 101 | Venezuela | 6 April 2006 |
| 102 | Estonia | 26 April 2006 |
| 103 | Timor-Leste | 7 November 2006 |
| 104 | Botswana | 9 November 2006 |
| 105 | Armenia | 15 March 2007 |
| 106 | Paraguay | 23 March 2007 |
| 107 | Slovenia | 19 April 2007 |
| 108 | Croatia | 10 May 2007 |
| 109 | United Arab Emirates | 21 May 2007 |
| 110 | Costa Rica | 4 September 2007 |
| 111 | Ireland | Before April 2008 |
| 112 | Australia | 7 May 2009 |
| 113 | Montenegro | 1 February 2011 |
| 114 | Malta | 14 February 2011 |
| 115 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 23 February 2011 |
| 116 | Georgia | 3 March 2011 |
| 117 | Fiji | 11 May 2011 |
| 118 | Mauritius | 6 July 2011 |
| 119 | Sri Lanka | 1 February 2012 |
| 120 | Solomon Islands | 6 March 2012 |
| 121 | Tuvalu | 27 April 2012 |
| 122 | Kenya | 28 August 2012 |
| 123 | Latvia | 26 September 2013 |
| 124 | Monaco | 27 February 2014 |
| 125 | Zimbabwe | 27 March 2014 |
| 126 | Madagascar | 17 September 2014 |
| 127 | Kyrgyzstan | 3 February 2016 |
| 128 | Tajikistan | 13 June 2017 |
| 129 | Azerbaijan | 19 March 2018 |
| 130 | Maldives | 20 April 2018 |
| 131 | San Marino | 12 December 2018 |
| 132 | Bangladesh | 12 March 2019 |
| 133 | Laos | 29 August 2019 |
| 134 | Dominican Republic | 16 October 2019 |
| 135 | Turkmenistan | 21 May 2021 |
| 136 | Guinea-Bissau | 26 November 2021 |
| 137 | Jordan | 5 December 2021 |
| 138 | Andorra | 24 February 2022 |
| 139 | Gambia | 17 June 2022 |
| 140 | Malawi | 18 October 2022 |
| 141 | Comoros | 3 February 2023 |
| 142 | Burkina Faso | Unknown |
| 143 | Eswatini | Unknown |
| 144 | Iraq | Unknown |
| 145 | Ivory Coast | Unknown |
| 146 | Liberia | Unknown |
| 147 | Niger | Unknown |
| 148 | Nigeria | Unknown |
| 149 | São Tomé and Príncipe | Unknown |
| 150 | Yemen | Unknown |

## Bilateral relations

| Country | Formal relations began | Notes |
| Canada | February 1962 | Both countries established diplomatic relations in February 1962 Canada is accredited to the Republic of the Congo from its embassy in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. Republic of the Congo is accredited to Canada from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States. |
| China | 22 February 1964 | See China-Republic of the Congo relations On February 22, 1964, China established diplomatic relations with the Republic of Congo. |
| Finland | 22 March 1967 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 22 March 1967 See Finland-Republic of the Congo relations |
| France | 16 August 1960 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 16 August 1960 Republic of the Congo has an embassy in Paris. France has an embassy in Brazzaville and a consulate-general in Pointe-Noire. |
| India | 26 August 1967 | See Republic of Congo–India relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 26 August 1967. India maintains an embassy in Brazzaville since 2021. Republic of the Congo maintains an embassy in New Delhi. |
| Israel | 9 November 1960 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 9 November 1960 when Ram Yaron was appointed first Israel ambassador at Brazzaville. But Congo severance diplomatic relations with Israel on 31 December 1972. Diplomatic relations were restored between them on 14 July 1991. |
| Mexico | 1990 | Both countries estabblished diplomatic relations in 1990 Republic of the Congo is accredited to Mexico from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States. Mexico is accredited to the Republic of the Congo from its embassy in Abuja, Nigeria |
| Namibia | 23 March 1990 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 23 March 1990 Congo has an embassy in Windhoek. Namibia has an embassy in Brazzaville. |
| Poland | 19 December 1972 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 19 December 1972 See Poland-Republic of the Congo relations |
| Portugal | 25 May 1961 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 25 May 1961 whne first Ambassador of Portugal with residence in Brazzaville Mr. Gonçalo Correia Caldeira Coelho presented his credentials, but 17 August 1965 Congo severing diplomatic relations with Portugal. Diplomatic ties re-established on 25 January 1975 |
| Russia | 16 March 1964 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 16 March 1964 The Republic of the Congo has no embassy in Moscow. Russia has an embassy in Brazzaville. |
| Senegal | 9 April 1969 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 9 April 1969 when Ambassador of Senegal to Congo (Brazzaville) (resident in Kinshasa) Mr. Mademba Sy presented his credentials to Head of State Major Marien Ngouabi |
| South Korea | 21 August 1961 | The diplomatic relations between the South Korea and the Republic of the Congo were established on 21 August 1961. Bilateral trade in 2011 totalled $52,940,000 exports, and $78,100,000 imports. The Congo was a major oil exporter to Korea. |
| Tanzania | 22 October 1981 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 22 October 1981 when Ambassador of Tanzania to Congo Mme. Tato Nuru presented his letters of credentials to President of Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso. |
| Togo | 1968 | The two countries maintain diplomatic relations and Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé visited the Republic of the Congo in November 2023 meeting President Denis Sassou Nguesso. |
| Turkey | 9 November 1981 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 9 November 1981 Congo has an embassy in Ankara. Turkey has an embassy in Brazzaville. Trade volume between the two countries was 57.25 million USD in 2019 (Turkish exports/imports: 1.47/55.8 million USD). |
| United Kingdom | 1960 | See Foreign relations of the United Kingdom The Congo established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 9 December 1960. The Republic of the Congo maintains an embassy in London. The United Kingdom is not accredited to the Republic of the Congo through an embassy; the UK develops relations through its embassy in Kinshasa, DR Congo. Both countries share common membership of the Atlantic co-operation pact, the International Criminal Court, and the World Trade Organization. Bilaterally the two countries have an Investment Agreement. |
| United States | 15 August 1960 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 15 August 1960 See Republic of the Congo-United States relations Diplomatic relations between the United States and Congo were broken during the most radical Congolese-Marxist period, 1965–77. The U.S. Embassy reopened in 1977 with the restoration of relations, which remained distant until the end of the socialist era. The late 1980s were marked by a progressive warming of Congolese relations with Western countries, including the United States. Congolese President Denis Sassou-Nguesso made a state visit to Washington in 1990, where he was received by President George H. W. Bush. Republic of the Congo has an embassy in Washington, D.C. United States has an embassy in Brazzaville. |
| Zambia | 12 January 1973 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 12 January 1973 when the first Zambian Ambassador to the Congo People's Republic (resident in Kinshasa), M. Chalikulima, presented his credentials to President Ngouabi |