Foreign relations of Togo
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{{Use British English|date=January 2025}}
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{{Politics of Togo}}
Although Togo's foreign policy is nonaligned, it has strong historical and cultural ties with western Europe, especially France and Germany. Togo is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, exchanging high commissioners with other Commonwealth countries. It recognizes the People's Republic of China, North Korea, and Cuba, and re-established relations with Israel in 1987.
Togo pursues an active foreign policy and participates in many international organizations. It is particularly active in West African regional affairs and in the African Union. Relations between Togo and neighboring states are generally good.
Diplomatic relations
List of countries which Togo maintains diplomatic relations with:
Bilateral relations
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| style="width:15%;" | Country
! style="width:12%;" | Formal Relations Began !Notes | ||
|---|---|---|
| {{Flag|Angola}}
|27 September 1988 |Both countries established diplomatic relations on 27 September 1988 when M. Brito Sozinho , Angola's Ambassador to Nigeria, presented his credentials to the Togolese Head of State, General Gnassingbe Eyadema.{{Cite book |title=NewsBulletin - Issues 87-114 |publisher=ANGOP |year=1988 |pages=10}} | ||
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|{{flag|Belgium}} | 1961 | * Belgium is accredited to Togo from its embassy in Cotonou, Benin.
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| {{Flag|Benin}}
|5 September 1983 |Both countries established diplomatic relations on 5 September 1983 when Ambassador of Benin to Togo (resident in accra) Mr. Lucien Tonoukoin presented his credentials to Head of State General Eyadema.{{Cite book |title=Togo dialogue - Issues 74-88 |publisher=Imprimerie Editogo |year=1983 |pages=33}} | ||
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|{{flag|Brazil}} | 26 October 1962 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 26 October 1962{{Cite web |title=Cria uma Embaixada do Brasil na República do Togo, cumulativa com a Embaixada do Brasil na República de Gana |url=https://www.diariodasleis.com.br/legislacao/federal/77311-cria-uma-embaixada-do-brasil-na-republica-do-togo-cumulativa-com-a-embaixada-do-brasil-na-republica-de-gana.html |access-date=6 July 2023 |website=PORTAL DE LEGISLAÇÃO |language=pt}} |
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|{{flag|Canada}} | 7 June 1962 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 7 June 1962{{Cite web |title=A Guide to Canadian Diplomatic Relations 1925-2019 |url=https://www.cgai.ca/a_guide_to_canadian_diplomatic_relations_1925_2019 |access-date=4 May 2023 |website=Canadian Global Affairs Institute}} |
| {{Flag|Chad}}
|10 April 1985 |Both countries established diplomatic relations on 10 April 1985 when Ambassador of Chad Mr. Youssouf Nboudou Mbami presented his credentials to President of Togo.{{Cite book |title=Marchés tropicaux et méditerranéens Issues 2056-2068 |publisher=1985 |pages=1007 |language=fr}} | ||
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|{{flag|China}} | 19 September 1972 | See China–Togo relations
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 19 September 1972{{Cite web |title=Togo |url=http://www.china.org.cn/english/features/focac/183414.htm |access-date=4 May 2023 |website=china.org.cn}}
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| {{Flag|Democratic Republic of Congo}}
|14 July 1970 |Both countries established diplomatic relations on 14 July 1970 when Congo-Kinshasa's first Ambassador to Togo, Mr. Kondo Belan, presented his credentials to Head of State Etienne Eyadema.{{Cite book |title=Africa |publisher=Agence France Presse |year=1970 |pages=2}} | ||
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|{{flag|Republic of the Congo}} | 6 August 1984 | The two countries maintain diplomatic relations and President of Togo Faure Gnassingbé visited the Republic of the Congo in November 2023 meeting Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso.{{Cite web |date=8 November 2023 |title=Relations diplomatiques entre le Togo et le Congo Brazzaville |url=https://www.republicoftogo.com/content/download/112436/2900871/1 |access-date=8 November 2023 |page=3 |language=fr}} |
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|{{flag|Cyprus}} | 24 September 2015 | Cyprus is accredited to Togo from its high commission in Paris, France.{{cite web|url=http://www.mfa.gov.cy/mfa/mfa2016.nsf/All/8542C308E4C83295C22582500037D5EC?OpenDocument|title=MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS - Foreign Diplomatic Missions in Cyprus – International Organizations|website=www.mfa.gov.cy|access-date=30 December 2018}} |
| {{Flag|Denmark}}
|21 June 1968 |Both countries established diplomatic relations on 21 June 1968 when Mrs. Johanne Wright , ambassador of Denmark to Ivory Coast and to Togo , presented his letters of credence to Togo.{{Cite book |title=Bulletin de l'Afrique noire - Issues 514-526 |publisher=La Documentation africaine |year=1968 |language=fr}} | ||
| {{Flag|Ethiopia}}
|11 December 1982 |Both countries established diplomatic relations on 11 December 1982 when Ambassador of Ethiopia (resident in Accra) Mr. Kasate Berham Babina presented letters of credence to President of Togo Gnassingbe Eyadema.{{Cite book |title=Le Mois en Afrique - Volume 17, Issues 194-199 |publisher=1982 |pages=158 |language=fr}} | ||
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|{{flag|France}} | 27 April 1960 | See France–Togo relations
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 27 April 1960{{Cite web |title=Liste chronologique des ambassadeurs, envoyes extraordinaires, ministres plenipotentiaires et charges d'affaires de France a l'etranger depuis 1945 |url=https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/maep0035-0120_cle8a5377.pdf |access-date=30 April 2023 |website=diplomatie.gouv.fr |page=103 |language=fr}}
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|{{flag|Gabon}} | 21 June 1968 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 21 June 1968 when Ambassador of Gabon to Togo (resident in Abidjan) Mr. Abdoulaye M'Bingt presented his credentials.
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|{{flag|Germany}} | 27 April 1960 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 27 April 1960{{Cite web |title=Togo: Überblick |url=https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/service/laender/togo-node/togo/213834?view= |access-date=4 May 2023 |website=Auswärtiges Amt |language=de}}
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|{{flag|Ghana}} | 21 January 1963 | See Ghana–Togo relations
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 21 January 1963.{{Cite book |title=Africa Diary Volume 3 |publisher=M. Chhabra |year=1963 |pages=986}} After 1918, following the defeat of Germany, the League of Nations divided the German colony of Togoland from north to south, a decision that divided the Ewe people among the Gold Coast, British Togoland, and French Togoland. After 1945, the United Nations (UN) took over the Togoland mandates. During the 1950s, when the independence of Ghana was in sight, demands grew for a separate Ewe state, an idea that Kwame Nkrumah, leader of the Gold Coast independence movement, opposed. Following a UN plebiscite in May 1956, in which a majority of the Ewe voted for union with Ghana, British Togoland became part of the Gold Coast.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4273845.stm|title=Impressions of Togo after the 'coup'|date=18 February 2005|access-date=30 December 2018|via=news.bbc.co.uk}} After Togolese independence in 1960, relations between Togo and Ghana deteriorated, aggravated by political differences and incidents such as smuggling across their common border. At times, relations have verged on open aggression.Owusu, Maxwell. "Relations with Immediate African Neighbors". A Country Study: Ghana (La Verle Berry, editor). Library of Congress Federal Research Division (November 1994). This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/about.html] The result of the transfer of Togoland to Ghana has meant that many Togolese keep one foot on either side of the border, living in Ghana by night and working in the markets of the capital, Lomé, by day. Ghana is the only Commonwealth member with which Togo shares a border.
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|{{flag|India}} | 31 August 1962 | See India–Togo relations
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 31 August 1962{{Cite book |title=Indian Information |publisher=1962 |pages=578}}
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|{{flag|Israel}} | 8 September 1960 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 8 September 1960 when has been accredited first Ambassador of Israel to Togo (resident in Accra) Mr. Moshe Bitan.{{Cite book |title=Togo Handbook |publisher=Togo Service de l'information |year=1962 |pages=66 |quote=Ambassade d'Israël S.E.M. Moshe Bitan ... 8 sept. 1960}} Togo severed ties with Israel on 21 September 1973.{{Cite web |last=Benyamin Neuberger |title=Israel's Relations with the Third World (1948–2008) |url=https://www.tau.ac.il/humanities/abraham/publications/israel.pdf |access-date=12 July 2023 |website=tau.ac.il |page=19}} Diplomatic relations were re-established on 9 June 1987.{{Cite book |title=Africa Today |publisher=Africa Journal Limited |year=1991 |pages=1860}}
In August 2017, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received Togo's President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbe in Jerusalem during his official five-day trip to Israel.{{cite web|url=http://www.bicom.org.uk/news/israel-african-relations-improve-togo-president-visits-israel/|title=Israel-African relations improve as Togo President visits Israel|website=BICOM|access-date=30 December 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://country.eiu.com/article.aspx?articleid=464569630&Country=Togo&topic=Politics&subtopic=Forecast&subsubtopic=International+relations&u=1&pid=1145983698&oid=1145983698&uid=1|title=President visits Israel|website=country.eiu.com|access-date=30 December 2018}} In December 2017, Togo voted at the UN to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. |
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|{{flag|Japan}} | 29 May 1967 | * Japan is accredited to Togo from its embassy in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
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| {{Flag|Kenya}}
|9 April 1985 |Both countries established diplomatic relations on 9 April 1985 when Ambassador of Kenya Mr. Kefa Onyoni presented letters of credentials to President of Togo, general Gnassingbe Eyadema.{{Cite book |title=Marchés tropicaux et méditerranéens Issues 2056-2068 |publisher=195 |pages=1007 |language=fr}} | ||
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|{{flag|Kuwait}} | 6 October 2010 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 6 October 2010 when has been opened Embassy of Togo in Kuwait.{{Cite web |title=Bienvenue à l'ambassade du Togo à l'Etat du Koweït |url=http://www.ambatogokuwait.com/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514231709/http://www.ambatogokuwait.com/ |archive-date=14 May 2013 |access-date=26 December 2023 |website=Ambassade du Togo au Koweit |language=fr}}
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| {{Flag|Lebanon}}
|7 June 1962 |Both countries established diplomatic relations on 7 June 1962 when first Ambassador of Lebanon to Togo (resident in Dakar) Mr. Mohammed Ali Hamade presented his credentials.{{Cite book |title=Afrique - Volumes 14-19 |publisher=Société internationale de publications commerciales, culturelles et artistiques |year=1962 |pages=64 |language=fr}} | ||
| {{Flag|Liberia}}
|29 July 1960 |Both countries established diplomatic relations on 29 July 1960 when accredited first Ambassador of Liberia to Togo Mr. John Cox.{{Cite book |title=Togo Handbook |publisher=Togo Service de l'information |year=1962 |pages=66 |language=fr}} | ||
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|{{flag|Libya}} | 3 November 1973 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 3 November 1973.{{Cite book |title=Africa Contemporary Record Annual Survey and Documents · Volume 6 |publisher=Africana Publishing Company |year=1974 |pages=63}}
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|{{flag|Mexico}} | 25 October 1975 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 25 October 1975{{Cite web |title=Hoy conmemoramos el 47 aniversario de relaciones diplomáticas entre México y Togo |url=https://twitter.com/SRE_mx/status/1584876174496464898?s=20 |access-date=4 May 2023 |website=Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores de México |language=es}}
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|{{flag|Netherlands}} | 5 October 1961 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 5 October 1961{{Cite book |title=Jaarboek van het Departement van Buitenlandse Zaken Volumes 69-72 |publisher=Netherlands. Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken |year=1961 |pages=99 |language=nl}}
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|{{flag|Nigeria}} | 1962 | * Nigeria has a high commission in Lomé.
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| {{Flag|Pakistan}}
|8 May 1964 |Both countries established diplomatic relations on 8 May 1964 when M. Mir Muhammed Shaikh , Pakistan's first Ambassador to Togo , presented his credentials.{{Cite book |title=Africa Research Bulletin Africa, political, social and cultural series · Volume 1 |publisher=Africa Research, Limited |year=1964 |pages=80}} | ||
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|{{flag|Palestine}} | During the votes to admit Palestine to UNESCO as a member state in October 2011 and as Non-Member Observer State, in November 2012 Togo abstained from the voting. | |
| {{Flag|Senegal}}
|1 June 1976 |Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 June 1976 when Senegal's first Ambassador to Togo , Mr. Massamba Codou Diouf , presented his credentials to President Eyadéma.{{Cite book |title=Africa Research Bulletin |publisher=Blackwell |year=1976 |pages=4051}} | ||
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|{{flag|South Africa}} | 13 January 1997 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 13 January 1997
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|{{flag|South Korea}} | 26 July 1963 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 26 July 1963,{{Cite web |title=Togo |url=https://www.mofa.go.kr/eng/nation/m_4902/view.do?seq=178 |access-date=16 April 2024 |website=Ministry of Foreign Affairs Republic of Korea}} but severed 16 September 1974 and re-established on 23 January 1991{{Cite web |title=Diplomatic Relations Between Togo and Republic of Korea as of 23 Jan 1991 |url=https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/1632623?ln=en |access-date=4 May 2023 |website=United Nations Digital Library}} |
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|{{flag|Spain}} | 22 October 1965 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 22 October 1965{{Cite web |title=Togo: RELACIONES BILATERALES CON ESPAÑA |url=https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Documents/FichasPais/TOGO_FICHA%20PAIS.pdf |access-date=16 April 2024 |website=exteriores.gob.es |page=5 |language=es}}
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| {{Flag|Tanzania}}
|27 December 1984 |Both countries established diplomatic relations on 27 December 1984 when Ambassador of Tanzania major general S. H. Sarakikya presented his credentials to President of Togo.{{Cite book |title=Marchés tropicaux et méditerranéens Issues 1991-2003 |publisher=1984 |pages=28 |language=fr}} | ||
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|{{flag|Turkey}} | 6 December 1962 | See Togo–Turkey relations
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 6 December 1962 when accredited first Ambassador of Turkey to Togo (resident in Accra) Mr. Kamran Acet.
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|{{flag|United Kingdom}} | 27 April 1960 | Togo established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 27 April 1960.{{Cite book|title=The Diplomatic Service List|author=Great Britain. Diplomatic Service Administration Office.|publisher=H.M. Stationery Office|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s8ofAAAAMAAJ|year=1970 |pages=136–149}}{{failed verification|reason=The source does not state when Togo and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=January 2025}}
Both countries share common membership of the Atlantic co-operation pact,{{cite news|last=Politi|first=James|date=19 September 2023|title=US unveils Atlantic co-operation pact|work=Financial Times|url=https://www.ft.com/content/56706df4-f39b-4ab5-8acf-b252176d172d|access-date=19 January 2024|url-access=subscription|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119085952/https://www.ft.com/content/56706df4-f39b-4ab5-8acf-b252176d172d|archive-date=19 January 2024|url-status=live}} the Commonwealth, and the World Trade Organization. |
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|{{flag|United States}} | 27 April 1960 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 27 April 1960{{Cite web |title=A Guide to the United States' History of Recognition, Diplomatic, and Consular Relations, by Country, since 1776: Togo |url=https://history.state.gov/countries/togo |access-date=4 May 2023 |website=Office of the Historian}}
See Togo–United States relations The United States and Togo have had generally good relations since its independence, although the United States has never been one of Togo's major trading partners. The largest share of U.S. exports to Togo generally has been used clothing and scrap textiles. Other important U.S. exports include rice, wheat, shoes, and tobacco products, and U.S. personal computers and other office electronics are becoming more widely used.
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