Foreign relations of Nauru

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 31 October 2016.[5]

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 22 September 2017.

Australia administered Nauru as a dependent territory from 1914 to 1968, and has remained one of Nauru's foremost economic and aid partners thereafter. Relations between the two countries are, at present, cordial, with Australia having committed itself to assisting Nauru's economic development.

• Australia has a high commission in Aiwo.
• Nauru has a consulate-general in Brisbane.

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 2 November 2005.[6]

On 21 July 2002, then President Rene Harris of Nauru signed a joint communiqué in Hong Kong to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China.[7] In the document, the Government of the Republic of Nauru recognised that "there is but one China in the world, that the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory."[8] The declaration also contained an undertaking by Nauru to close its embassy in Taipei within one month, despite the fact Nauru had never had a diplomatic mission in Taiwan. This move followed the PRC's promise to provide more than $130 million USD in aid.

That same day, the Republic of China government issued an ultimatum, demanding that the communiqué be withdrawn within 24 hours or it would take the initiative and sever ties. There was much dissension within the Nauruan government over the move by Harris, which the President was alleged to have made on his own initiative. In the confusion, the Nauruan government did not respond to the ultimatum, which was extended an additional 24 hours, and the ROC followed through with its threat, breaking ties that had existed since 1980 on 23 July 2002. In 2003, Nauru closed its embassy in Beijing, prompting speculation of an imminent resumption of ties with the ROC,[9] which it did in May 2005.[10]

In the late 2000s, Nauru began to strengthen its relations with Cuba. Cuba provides medical aid to Nauru; an unspecified number of Cuban doctors are serving in Nauru.[11]

In June 2007, Nauru adopted the "Cuban literacy method", reportedly used also in several other countries.[12] In October 2007, Nauruan Foreign Minister and Trade Minister David Adeang travelled to Cuba to strengthen relations between the two island nations.[11] This led to the creation of a Cuba-Nauru Joint Intergovernmental Commission for Economic Cooperation.[13] At approximately this time, Nauru-US relations underwent tensions for reasons which were not completely clear (See also: Foreign relations of Nauru#Ties with the United States of America, above).

In September 2008, Nauru's foreign minister attended the first Cuba-Pacific Islands ministerial meeting in Havana, aimed at "strengtening cooperation" between Nauru and Cuba, notably on coping with the impact of climate change.[14][15]

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 4 December 2000.[16][17]

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 23 March 2000.[18]

Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1984.[19]

India established relations with the country since its independence in 1968 and have had numerous visits by presidents of Nauru to the Republic since then. India is one of the largest donors to the island by helping the education ministry and revamping the island's parliament facilities to its MP's and its Speaker. India has also reserved 5 slots for Naruran citizens for training courses under the Indian Technical & Economical Cooperation (ITEC) programme in the year 2010-11.[3] One scholarship slot is also offered under General Cultural Scholarship of ICCR (Commonwealth Scheme).[20]

Both nations established diplomatic relations in 2013.

In August 2019, Nauru recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1968.[21]

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 19 November 2008.[22]

• Mexico is accredited to Nauru from its embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
• Nauru does not have an accreditation to Mexico.

• Nauru does not have an accreditation to New Zealand.
• New Zealand is accredited to Nauru from a New Zealand-based high commissioner.

Russia is accredited to Nauru from its embassy in Canberra, Australia.

Nauru's banks are said to have provided services to the mafia in Russia during the 1990s; over the course of the 1990s, approximately 70 billion U.S. dollars owned by Russian mafia were held in Nauru banks.[23]

In 2009, Nauru became the fourth country to recognize the states of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, breakaway regions of Georgia. Only three other UN member states have done so. Russia was reported to be giving Nauru $50M in humanitarian aid in exchange.[24]

South Africa is in the process of establishing diplomatic relations on a non-residential basis.[25]

South Korea and Nauru established diplomatic relations on 20 August 1979.[26]

President Baron Waqa and ROC President Tsai Ing-wen in Taiwan.

On 21 July 2002, Nauru broke diplomatic relations with Taiwan and established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. In 2003, Nauru closed its embassy in Beijing.[9] In April 2005, during a state visit to the Marshall Islands, ROC President Chen Shui-bian met and spoke with the Nauruan President Ludwig Scotty. On 14 May 2005, the two countries signed the necessary documents to restore formal ties and reopen embassies.[10]

• Turkish ambassador in Canberra to Australia is also accredited to Nauru.[28]
• Trade volume between the two countries was negligible in 2018.[29]

The Nauruan government maintains an Honorary Consul, Martin W I Weston, in London who has served in this role for a number of years. The British Government had ceased to exercise any direct role in the governance of Nauru by 1968.

The Nauruan government has a very complex relationship with the United States; the government of Bernard Dowiyogo agreed to stop passport sales and offshore banking in return for an extensive aid package.[30] However, that aid has not been delivered and Nauru's formal and traditional leaders are now looking to Japan and China for assistance. According to the U.S. Department of State, Nauru has cordial relations with the United States[31]

The U.S. has no consular or diplomatic offices in Nauru. Officers of the American Embassy in Suva, Fiji, are concurrently accredited to Nauru and make periodic visits.

In September 2007, David Adeang, Nauru's Foreign Minister, made a number of public statements in relation to the United States. He extolled Cuba and criticized US foreign policy, during a visit to the Caribbean island.[32] Subsequently, the US Department of State, referring to events investigated in 2007, reported criticism of Adeang in its Human Rights Report, issued for 2008.[33] This criticism was included in the State Department's report, despite the fact that police, having undertaken an investigation of allegations of wrongdoing, made no attempt to prosecute Adeang. Shortly after Adeang's public pronouncements, a crisis, with himself at the centre, led to the collapse of President of Nauru Ludwig Scotty's government.

Trade between the United States and Nauru is limited by the latter's small size and economic problems. The value of two-way trade in 2005 was US$1.6 million.

In October 2008 the new US Ambassador to Fiji, also accredited to Nauru, pledged efforts to assist Nauru's economic development.[34]