Foreign relations of the Marshall Islands
The Republic of the Marshall Islands has established bilateral diplomatic relations with about 105 states. Regional cooperation, through membership in various regional and international organizations, is a key element in its foreign policy.[1]
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This article is part of a series on the politics and government of the Marshall Islands |
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The Marshall Islands became a member of the United Nations on September 17, 1991. The Marshall Islands maintains embassies in the United States, Fiji, South Korea, Japan, and the Republic of China (Taiwan). They also maintain a consulate in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA and a consulate in Springdale, Arkansas, USA.
In May 2005, Chen Shui-bian, President of the Republic of China (Taiwan), became the first foreign head of state to make an official visit to the Marshall Islands.
Countries with diplomatic relations

List of countries with diplomatic relations with the Marshall Islands:[1][2]
United States – 21 October 1986
Federated States of Micronesia – 26 February 1987
Australia – 8 July 1987
Israel – 16 September 1987
Fiji – 22 January 1988
Kiribati – 4 June 1988
New Zealand – 17 June 1988
Philippines – 15 September 1988
Papua New Guinea – 21 September 1988
Japan – 9 December 1988
Chile – 25 January 1990
Solomon Islands – 23 May 1990
Vanuatu – 1 August 1990
Tuvalu – 14 September 1990
Samoa – 22 October 1990
Nauru – 22 February 1991
South Korea – 16 March 1991
Germany – 23 September 1991
Peru – 14 November 1991
Cyprus – 17 November 1991
Maldives – 16 December 1991
Poland – 17 December 1991
Spain – 17 December 1991
United Kingdom – 2 February 1992
Sweden – 12 February 1992
Greece – 14 February 1992
Egypt – 2 May 1992
Vietnam – 1 June 1992
Costa Rica – 15 June 1992
Colombia – 5 August 1992
Russia – 6 August 1992
Singapore – 28 August 1992
Denmark – 17 September 1992
Norway – 18 October 1992
Slovenia – 19 October 1992
Saint Lucia – 1992[3]
Iceland – 25 January 1993
Finland – 26 January 1993
Mexico – 28 January 1993
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – 28 January 1993
Seychelles – 2 February 1993
Malaysia – 4 January 1993 / 4 June 1993
France – 19 February 1993
Austria – 1 March 1993
Netherlands – 2 March 1993
Barbados – 23 March 1993
Argentina – 23 April 1993
Belize – 30 April 1993
Indonesia – 21 May 1993
Luxembourg – 20 July 1993
Italy – 24 September 1993
Thailand – 29 October 1993
Malta – 8 February 1994
Holy See – 30 December 1994
Portugal – 10 February 1995
Andorra – 23 February 1995
Kuwait – 27 September 1995
Ukraine – 22 December 1995
Cape Verde – 1 December 1995
Brunei – 17 January 1996
South Africa – 17 January 1996
Romania – 29 January 1996
Belgium – 29 May 1996
Turkmenistan – 8 October 1996
Mauritius – 23 October 1996
India – 21 February 1997
Canada – 14 August 1997
Palau – 1 August 1998
Republic of China – 20 November 1998
Slovakia – 29 January 1999
Sovereign Order of Malta – 3 May 2002
Switzerland – 22 January 2003
North Macedonia – 27 February 2003
Turkey – 11 April 2008
Czech Republic – 30 April 2009
Uruguay – 2 December 2009
Azerbaijan – 18 February 2010
Georgia – 18 February 2010
Tajikistan – 18 February 2010
United Arab Emirates – 3 June 2010
Brazil – 27 July 2010[4]
Morocco – 13 September 2010[5]
Estonia – 12 July 2013[6]
Cook Islands – 3 September 2013[7]
Kosovo – 27 October 2013[8]
Mongolia – 23 May 2015[9]
Cuba – 28 September 2015[10]
Monaco – 29 September 2015[9]
Kyrgyzstan – 23 December 2016[11]
Cambodia – 20 January 2017[12]
Myanmar – 21 April 2017[13]
Guatemala – 20 July 2017[14]
El Salvador – 23 September 2017[15]
Saint Kitts and Nevis – 18 December 2018[16]
Kazakhstan – 12 February 2019[9]
Eswatini – 15 April 2019[17]
Nicaragua – 13 June 2019[18]
Bosnia and Herzegovina – 23 September 2019[19]
Dominican Republic – 23 September 2019[20]
Croatia – 24 September 2019[21]
Ecuador – 24 September 2019[22]
Honduras – 24 September 2019[23]
Liechtenstein – 24 September 2019[24]
Lithuania – 24 September 2019[25]
Timor-Leste – 25 September 2019[26]
Algeria – 26 September 2019[27]
Lebanon – 26 September 2019[28]
Paraguay – 26 September 2019[29]
Hungary – 27 September 2019[30]
Bilateral relations
Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
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![]() | April 1995 | See India–Marshall Islands relations
As per the Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India, India established diplomatic relations with Republic of the Marshall Islands in April 1995. Development assistance from India has included a grant of US$100,000 in June 2008 for a solar street lighting project in the capital city of Majuro and grant of 5 ITEC scholarships in November 2010. Marshall Islands has been supportive of issues of importance to India, particularly Indian candidature to international organizations. It supported India's candidature for the non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council for the 2011–12 term. Presently, there are about 10 Indian nationals in the Marshall Islands.[31] |
![]() | 1987 | See Israel–Marshall Islands relations |
![]() | 17 April 2008 | See Kosovo–Marshall Islands relations
The Marshall Islands officially recognised the independence of the Republic of Kosovo on the 17 April 2008.[32] Kosovo and the Marshall Islands established diplomatic relations on 27 October 2013. |
![]() | See Marshall Islands–Federated States of Micronesia relations
The Marshall Islands and Micronesia share very good relations, as they are both bound by Compacts of Free Association with the United States. | |
![]() | 28 January 1993 | |
![]() | See Marshall Islands-Palau relations
The Marshall Islands and Palau share very good relations, as they are both bound by Compacts of Free Association with the United States. | |
![]() | 1991-03-16 |
The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Korea (South Korea) began on 16 March 1991.[35] |
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The Marshall Islands were once part of the Spanish East Indies.
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![]() | April 9, 2008[36] |
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![]() | See Marshall Islands–United States relations
The Marshall Islands and the United States maintain a strong and stable relationship under the Compact of Free Association. The US has full responsibility in the country's defense, financial aid, and social services. In return, the U.S. provides healthcare services, security, and freedom of movement between U.S., American Samoan, and Marshall Islander citizens. In international politics, Marshall Islands has often voted with the United States with respect to United Nations General Assembly resolutions.[40]
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Human rights criticisms
Hong Kong national security law
In June 2020, the Marshall Islands openly opposed the Hong Kong national security law[43]
See also
References
- "Countries with which the Marshall Islands has Diplomatic Relations" (PDF). U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
- "The Marshall Islands - Diplomatic Relations". Retrieved 8 May 2019.
- "List of countries with which Saint Lucia has diplomatic relations" (PDF). Retrieved 31 March 2018.
- "Republic of Marshall Islands". Archived from the original on 2017-09-06. Retrieved 2018-03-31.
- "Iles Marshall" (PDF) (in French). Retrieved 31 March 2018.
- "Estonia Established Diplomatic Relations With Marshall Islands". Retrieved 31 March 2018.
- "Cook Island establishes diplomatic relations with Kiribati, Palau and Marshall Islands". Retrieved 31 March 2018.
- "Republika e Kosovës vendos marrëdhëniet diplomatike me Republikën e Ishujve Marshall (Albanian)". Kosovo MFA. 27 October 2013. Retrieved 1 November 2013.
- "Diplomatic Relations". Retrieved 31 March 2018.
- "Establecen relaciones diplomáticas Cuba e Islas Marshall". Archived from the original on 18 January 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
- "Kyrgyzstan establishes diplomatic relations with Marshall Islands". AKIpress. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
- "Marshall Islands Establishes Diplomatic Relations with Kingdom of Cambodia" (PDF). Retrieved 31 March 2018.
- "List of Countries having Diplomatic Relations with the Republic of the Union of Myanmar". Retrieved 31 March 2018.
- "Guatemala foreign minister visits Taiwan to promote ties". Retrieved 31 March 2018.
- "El Salvador establece nuevas relaciones diplomáticas y fortalece vínculos con naciones". Retrieved 31 March 2018.
- "Listing of all countries which have established diplomatic relations with the republic of the Marshall Islands". Retrieved 13 February 2019.
- "Marshall Islands opens diplomatic ties with eSwatini". 15 April 2019. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
- "Nicaragua e Islas Marshall establecen Relaciones Diplomáticas en Naciones Unidas - LVDS". La Voz del Sandinismo (in Spanish). 14 June 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
- "Diplomatic Relations Between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Marshall Islands as of 23 Sept. 2019". United Nations Digital Library. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
- SIN, Noticias (24 September 2019). "Canciller Miguel Vargas reitera rechazo de RD a intervención militar en Venezuela". Noticias SIN (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 September 2019.
- "Diplomatic Relations Between Croatia and Marshall Islands as of 24 Sept. 2019". United Nations Digital Library. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
- "Ecuador inicia relaciones diplomáticas con las Islas Marshall – Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Movilidad Humana". www.cancilleria.gob.ec (in Spanish).
- "Honduras establece relaciones diplomáticas con Islas Marshall y acuerda cooperación con República Checa" (in Spanish). 24 September 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
- "Amb. Martin Frick, Director of @MFA_LI and @RMIMission Foreign Minister John M. Silk establish diplomatic relations between the two countries with a view to strengthening cooperation at the #UN and beyond". Twitter. 24 September 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
- "Lithuania establishes diplomatic relations with Marshall Islands". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
- "Diplomatic Relations Between Marshall Islands and Timor-Leste as of 25 Sept. 2019". Retrieved 14 January 2020.
- "Diplomatic Relations Between Algeria and Marshall Islands as of 26 Sept. 2019". United Nations Digital Library. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
- "Diplomatic Relations Between Lebanon and Marshall Islands as of 26 Sept. 2019". Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- "Portal Oficial del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de la República del Paraguay :: Paraguay y las Islas Marshalls establecieron relaciones diplomáticas". www2.mre.gov.py (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 September 2019.
- "Diplomatic Relations Between Hungary and Marshall Islands as of 27 Sept. 2019". United Nations Digital Library. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
- Republic of the Marshall Islands has recognised Kosovo, New Kosova Report, 2008-04-17
- Embassy of Mexico in the Philippines
- Relations between Mexico and Asia: The Philippines (in Spanish)
- http://search.mofa.go.kr/search/search_en.do
- "Relations between Turkey and Marshall Islands". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey.
- "Relations between Turkey and Marshall Islands". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey.
- "Relations between Turkey and Marshall Islands". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey.
- "Relations between Turkey and Marshall Islands". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey.
- General Assembly – Overall Votes – Comparison with U.S. vote lists Marshall Islands as in the country with the second high coincidence of votes. Micronesia has always been in the top two.
- Embassy of the Marshall Islands in the United States
- Embassy of the United States in the Marshall Islands
- Lawler, Dave (2 July 2020). "The 53 countries supporting China's crackdown on Hong Kong". Axios. Retrieved 3 July 2020.