Foreign relations of Guatemala explained

Guatemala's major diplomatic interests are regional security and increasingly, regional development and economic integration.

Diplomatic relations

List of countries which Guatemala maintains diplomatic relations with:

Country Date[1]
1 El Salvador
2 Honduras
3 United States[2]
4 Colombia
5 France
6 United Kingdom
7 Costa Rica
8 Chile[3]
9 Belgium
10 Dominican Republic
11 Nicaragua
12 Germany
13 Mexico
14 Netherlands
15 Peru
16 Spain
17 Italy
18 Austria
19 Turkey
20 Denmark
21
22 Portugal
23 Ecuador
(suspended)[4]
24 Cuba
25 Brazil
26 Switzerland
27 Uruguay
28 Paraguay
29 Argentina
30 Luxembourg
31 Czech Republic[5]
32 Sweden
33 Poland[6]
34 Panama
35 Japan
36 Norway
37
38 Israel
39 Haiti
40
41 Thailand
42 Canada[7]
43
44 Grenada
45 Greece
46 Finland[8]
47 Egypt
48 Morocco
49 India
50 Philippines
51 Australia
52 Iraq
53 Suriname
54 Bangladesh
55 Algeria
56 Jordan
57 Lebanon
58 Hungary
59 Romania
60 Belize
61 Jamaica
62 Barbados
63 Antigua and Barbuda
64 Bahamas
65 Saint Lucia
66 Indonesia
67 Guyana
68 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
69 Singapore
70 United Arab Emirates
71 Cyprus
72 Croatia
73 Saint Kitts and Nevis
75
76 Ukraine
77 Seychelles
78 Latvia
79
80 Malaysia
81 Maldives
82 Estonia
83 Kyrgyzstan
84 Guinea
85 Namibia
86 Albania
87 Belarus
88
89 Cameroon
90 Slovakia
91
92 Iceland
93 Oman
94 Slovenia
95 Lithuania
96 Bulgaria
97 Trinidad and Tobago
98 Ghana
99 Azerbaijan
100 South Africa
101 Benin
102 Andorra
103 Malta
104 Kuwait
105 Cambodia
106 Turkmenistan
107 Mozambique
108 Armenia
109 New Zealand
110
111 Nigeria
112 San Marino
113
114 Ireland
115 Mongolia
116 Mali
117 Burkina Faso
118 Cape Verde
119 Nepal
120 Tajikistan
121 Gambia
122 Mauritius
123 Montenegro
124 Nauru
125 Equatorial Guinea
126 Uzbekistan
127 Qatar
128 Zimbabwe
129 Tunisia
130 Botswana
131 Bahrain
132 Libya
133 Samoa
134
135 Monaco
136 Niger
137
138 Kenya
139 Bosnia and Herzegovina
140 Dominica
141 Georgia
142 Solomon Islands
143 Tuvalu
144 Kazakhstan
145 Pakistan
146 Ethiopia
147 Sri Lanka
148 Zambia
149 Fiji
150
151 Senegal
152 Liechtenstein
153 Saudi Arabia
154 Marshall Islands
155 Djibouti
156 Gabon
157 Palau
158
159
160

Bilateral relations

CountryFormal Relations BeganNotes
Andorra27 November 2007
  • Andorra does not have an accreditation to Guatemala.
  • Guatemala is accredited to Andorra from its embassy in Madrid, Spain.
Argentina
Armenia29 June 1998Both countries established diplomatic relations on 29 June 1998.
1 November 1994[9]
  • Azerbaijan is accredited to Guatemala through its embassy in Mexico City, Mexico.[10]
  • Guatemala is accredited to Azerbaijan through its consulate in Istanbul, Turkey.[11]
AustraliaThere are four Australia–Guatemala bilateral treaties. Guatemala has an embassy in Canberra, Australia.[12] The Australian embassy in Mexico has consular responsibility for Guatemala.[13] Trade between the two countries is 32 Million.[14]
Belize11 September 1993See Belize-Guatemala relations

Guatemala has a longstanding claim to a large portion of Belize. The territorial dispute caused problems with the United Kingdom and later with Belize following its 1981 independence from the UK. In December 1989, Guatemala sponsored Belize for permanent observer status in the Organization of American States (OAS). In September 1991 Guatemala recognized Belize's independence and established diplomatic ties, while acknowledging that the boundaries remained in dispute. In anticipation of an effort to bring the border dispute to an end in early 1996, the Guatemalan Congress ratified two long-pending international agreements governing frontier issues and maritime rights.

In early 2000 the Guatemalan Foreign Ministry proposed a border settlement that would transfer more than half of Belize's territory to Guatemala. Following a spate of border incidents, both sides agreed during talks under OAS auspices in November 2000 to confidence-building measures to reduce tensions. They followed that with an agreement on opening substantive discussions on the dispute. Both Guatemala and Belize are participating in the confidence-building measures, including the Guatemala-Belize Language Exchange Project.

In September 2010, the Guatemalan Congress overwhelmingly gave its approval for a referendum to be held; giving the people of Guatemala a say in whether or not that country’s claim to Belize should be taken to the International Court of Justice. Under the special agreement (compromise) signed in December 2008 by Belize and Guatemala it was agreed that if the people of both nations approved, by way of a simultaneous referendum on the same day, that the dispute would proceed to the ICJ. The outcome of any ruling handed down by the ICJ will be final and binding, regardless of in whose favor the ruling is handed down.

1952
  • Guatemala is accredited to Bolivia from its embassy in Lima, Peru.
  • Bolivia is accredited to Guatemala from its embassy in San José, Costa Rica.
Brazil21 November 1906
  • Brazil has an embassy in Guatemala City.
  • Guatemala has an embassy in Brasília.
Canada16 September 1961
  • Canada has an embassy in Guatemala City.[15]
  • Guatemala has an embassy in Ottawa and a consulate-general in Montreal.[16]
Chile8 August 1840
  • Chile has an embassy in Guatemala City.
  • Guatemala has an embassy in Santiago de Chile.
(Taiwan)15 June 1933
  • As of March 2023, Guatemala is one of 13 nations who recognize the legitimacy of the Republic of China (ROC) on Taiwan under the One China policy.[17]
  • The ROC has an embassy in Guatemala City.
  • Guatemala has an embassy in Taipei.
Costa Rica18 August 1839
  • Costa Rica has an embassy in Guatemala City.
  • Guatemala has an embassy in San José.
Cuba30 April 1902See Cuba–Guatemala relations
  • Cuba has an embassy in Guatemala City
  • Guatemala has an embassy in Havana
El Salvador21 March 1821See El Salvador–Guatemala relations
France2 March 1831
  • France has an embassy in Guatemala City.
  • Guatemala has an embassy in Paris.
Germany
  • Germany has an embassy in Guatemala City.
  • Guatemala has an embassy in Berlin.
Guyana1 May 1992
Honduras1821See Guatemala–Honduras relations
India16 May 1972See Guatemala–India relations
  • India maintains an embassy in Guatemala City.[22]
  • Guatemala has an embassy in New Delhi.
Indonesia29 April 1992
  • Indonesia is accredited to Guatemala from its embassy in Mexico City, Mexico.
  • Guatemala has an embassy in Jakarta.[23]
Israel15 May 1948
  • Israel maintains an embassy in Guatemala City.[24]
  • Guatemala has an embassy in Jerusalem.

In May 2018, Guatemala was the second country after the United States to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.[25]

The first COVID vaccines to arrive in Guatemala were received from donations sent by Israel.[26]

Mexico6 September 1838See Guatemala–Mexico relations; Guatemalan immigration to Mexico

Diplomatic relations between Mexico and Guatemala began in 1838 after the dissolution of the Federal Republic of Central America.

Morocco15 March 1971
  • Guatemala has an embassy in Rabat.
  • Morocco has an embassy in Guatemala City.
Nicaragua15 May 1845
  • Guatemala has an embassy in Managua.
  • Nicaragua has an embassy in Guatemala City.
Panama25 January 1935
  • Guatemala has an embassy in Panama City.
  • Panama has an embassy in Guatemala City.
Paraguay1 May 1907
  • Guatemala is accredited to Paraguay from its embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
  • Paraguay is accredited to Guatemala from its embassy in Mexico City, Mexico.
Philippines21 June 1972
  • Guatemala is accredited to Philippines from its embassy in Tokyo, Japan.
  • Philippines is accredited to Guatemala through its embassy in Mexico City, Mexico.
19 April 1945See Guatemala–Russia relations
  • Guatemala has an embassy in Moscow.
  • Russia has an embassy in Guatemala City.[29]
24 October 1962[30]
  • Guatemala has an embassy in Seoul, South Korea.[31]
  • South Korea has an embassy in Guatemala City.[32]
Spain29 May 1863See Guatemala–Spain relations
  • Guatemala has an embassy in Madrid.[33]
  • Spain has an embassy in Guatemala City.[34]
Sweden9 December 1930
  • Guatemala has an embassy in Stockholm.
  • Sweden has an embassy in Guatemala City, which is also accredited to El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama.
Thailand3 March 1957
  • Guatemala has an embassy in Bangkok.[35]
  • Thailand is accredited to Guatemala through its embassy in Mexico City, Mexico.
Turkey18 July 1874See Guatemala–Turkey relations
  • Guatemala has an embassy in Ankara and an honorary consulate in Istanbul.[36]
  • Turkey has an embassy in Guatemala City.
  • Trade volume between the two countries was 63.5 million USD in 2019 (Guatemalan exports/imports: 10/53.5 million USD).
12 July 1837
  • Guatemala has an embassy in London.[37]
  • United Kingdom has an embassy in Guatemala City.[38]
United States4 August 1824See Guatemala–United States relations

Relations between the United States and Guatemala traditionally have been close, although at times strained by human rights and civil-military issues. U.S. policy objectives in Guatemala include:

The United States, as a member of "the Friends of Guatemala", along with Colombia, Mexico, Spain, Norway, and Venezuela, played an important role in the UN-moderated peace accords. The United States strongly supported the six substantive and three procedural accords, which, along with the signing of the December 29, 1996 final accord, form the blueprint for profound political, economic, and social change. To that end, the U.S. government committed over $500 million to support peace implementation since 1997.

In recent years the number of violent crimes reported by U.S. citizens has steadily increased, though the number of Americans traveling to Guatemala has increased.

Most U.S. assistance to Guatemala is provided through the U.S. Agency for International Development's (USAID) offices for Guatemala. USAID/Guatemala's current program builds on the gains of the peace process that followed the signing of the peace accords in December 1996, as well as on the achievements of its 1997–2004 peace program. The current program works to advance U.S. foreign policy objectives by focusing on Guatemala's potential as Central America's largest economy and trading partner of the United States, but also recognizes the country's lagging social indicators and widespread poverty. The three areas of focus for USAID/Guatemala's program are modeled after the Millennium Challenge Account areas—ruling justly, economic freedom, and investing in people.

16 March 1907See Guatemala–Uruguay relations
  • Guatemala has an embassy in Montevideo.
  • Uruguay has an embassy in Guatemala City.
31 October 1890

See main article: Guatemala–Venezuela relations.

Multilateral relations

The Central American Ministers of Trade meet on a regular basis to work on regional approaches to trade issues. In March 1998, Guatemala joined its Central American neighbors in signing a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA). In 2000 it joined Honduras and El Salvador in signing a free trade agreement with Mexico, which went into effect in 2001. Guatemala also originated the idea for, and is the seat of, the Central American Parliament (PARLACEN).

Guatemala participates in several regional groups, particularly those related to the environment and trade. For example, US President Clinton and the Central American presidents signed the CONCAUSA (Conjunto Centroamerica-USA) agreement at the Summit of the Americas in December 1994. CONCAUSA is a cooperative plan of action to promote clean, efficient energy use; conserve the region's biodiversity; strengthen legal and institutional frameworks and compliance mechanisms; and improve and harmonize environmental protection standards.

Illicit drugs:Guatemala is a transit country for cocaine shipments; minor producer of illicit opium poppy and cannabis for the international drug trade; active eradication program in 1996 effectively eliminated the cannabis crop; proximity to Mexico makes Guatemala a major staging area for drugs (cocaine shipments).

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Relaciones Diplomáticas de Guatemala . 24 July 2021 . es.
  2. Web site: HISTORY OF THE U.S. AND GUATEMALA . 29 January 2018 . 13 June 2023.
  3. Web site: Listado de paises con relaciones diplomatica . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180226042604/https://www.minex.gob.gt/MDCE/MDCE_PAIS_RELACION_DIPLOMATICA/MDCE_PAIS_RELACION_DIPLOMATICAWebReport.aspx . 26 February 2018 . 23 July 2021 . minex.gob.gt . es.
  4. Book: Libro amarillo correspondiente al año ...: presentado al Congreso Nacional en sus sesiones ordinarias de ... por el titular despacho . Venezuela. Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores . 2003 . 528–529 . es.
  5. Book: Las relaciones entre Checoslovaquia y América Latina 1945-1989. En los archivos de la República Checa . Karolinum Press . 2015 . 267 . es.
  6. Web site: SERIA WYDAWNICZA: POLSKA SŁUŻBA ZAGRANICZNA 1918–1945 – materiały źródłowe . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20211222121648/https://www.archiwa.gov.pl/files/Urzednicy_sluzby_zagranicznej_PDF_small.pdf . 22 December 2021 . 5 June 2023 . 271 . pl.
  7. Web site: 2020 . A Guide to Canadian Diplomatic Relations 1925-2019 . 5 December 2021.
  8. Web site: Guatemala . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20161006040216/http://formin.finland.fi/public/default.aspx?nodeid=17313&culture=en-US&contentlan=2 . 6 October 2016 . 14 June 2023.
  9. Web site: Guatemala. 2021-01-25. mfa.gov.az.
  10. Web site: Azerbaijan Embassies in Guatemala. 2021-01-25. pickvisa.com. en.
  11. Web site: Guatemala Embassies in Turkey. 2021-01-25. pickvisa.com. en.
  12. Web site: Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Search results. protocol.dfat.gov.au. 6 July 2017. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20170611173241/http://protocol.dfat.gov.au/Mission/view.rails?id=81. 11 June 2017. dead.
  13. Web site: Guatemala. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. 6 July 2017. en-us.
  14. Web site: http://dfat.gov.au/trade/resources/Documents/guat.pdf . https://web.archive.org/web/20150814015356/http://dfat.gov.au/trade/resources/Documents/guat.pdf . 2015-08-14 . live. dfat.gov.au. Dept Foreign Affairs and Trade. 6 July 2017.
  15. Web site: Embassy of Canada to Guatemala. 20 November 2008. GAC.
  16. Web site: Forbidden. canada.minex.gob.gt.
  17. Web site: President Ma meets Guatemalan Vice President Fuentes - Focus Taiwan. 2020-06-10. focustaiwan.tw. 29 December 2015 .
  18. http://embajadaguatemala.rree.gob.sv Embassy of El Salvador in Guatemala (in Spanish)
  19. Web site: Forbidden. elsalvador.minex.gob.gt.
  20. Web site: Archived copy . 2016-07-16 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160307101008/http://www.minfor.gov.gy/docs/other/diplomatic_relations_list.pdf . 2016-03-07 .
  21. Web site: Forbidden. honduras.minex.gob.gt.
  22. Web site: Embassy of India Guatemala. indemguatemala.gov.in.
  23. News: The Opening of Guatemalan Embassy in Jakarta Marks New Phase of Indonesia-Guatemala's Bilateral Relationship . Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Indonesia . 2019-12-10.
  24. Web site: Embajada de Israel en Guatemala. 2020-06-10. embassies.gov.il. es.
  25. News: Guatemala opens embassy in Jerusalem, two days after U.S. Move. Reuters. 16 May 2018. Heller Williams. Jeffrey.
  26. Web site: 2021-02-26. 1st vaccines arrive in Honduras, Guatemala from Israel. 2021-07-12. TurkishPress. en-US.
  27. http://embamex.sre.gob.mx/guatemala/ Embassy of Mexico in Guatemala City (in Spanish).
  28. http://www.embajadaguatemalamx.mex.tl/ Embassy of Guatemala in Mexico City (in Spanish).
  29. Web site: Embassy of the Russian Federation in Guatemala City . 2009-06-25 . 2009-04-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090414025326/http://www.guat.mid.ru/ . dead .
  30. Web site: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea-Latin America and Caribbean.
  31. Web site: 알짜 유럽여행 정보 노리터 : 네이버 블로그. blog.naver.com.
  32. Web site: Embajada de la República de Corea en Guatemala . 2017-06-06 . 2017-10-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171011035152/http://gtm.mofa.go.kr/worldlanguage/america/gtm/main/index.jsp . dead .
  33. Web site: Homepage.
  34. Web site: Páginas - Embajada de España en Guatemala. exteriores.gob.es.
  35. News: Guatemala abre en Bangkok y Yakarta sus primeras embajadas en sureste de Asia. 2019-12-09 . es.
  36. Web site: Relations between Turkey and Guatemala.
  37. Web site: Embassy of Guatemala to the United Kingdom. 2020-06-10. Embajada de Guatemala. en-GB.
  38. Web site: British Embassy Guatemala City - GOV.UK. 2020-06-10. gov.uk. en.
  39. News: Menchu. Sofia. 2020-01-17. Guatemala's new president cuts ties with Venezuela, as promised. Reuters. 2021-05-31.