Foreign relations of the Bahamas explained

The Bahamas has a strong bilateral relationship with the United Kingdom, represented by a High Commissioner in London. The Bahamas also associates closely with other nations of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

The Bahamas became a member of the Organization of American States (OAS) in 1956 and the United Nations (UN) in 1973.

The Bahamas and the Commonwealth of Nations

The Bahamas has been an independent Commonwealth realm since 1973, with Charles III as King of The Bahamas. The King is represented locally by the Governor-General of the Bahamas.

Diplomatic relations

List of countries which the Bahamas maintains diplomatic relations with:

	Country	Date
1		^[1]
2		^[2]
3		^[3]
4		^[4] ^[5]
5		^[6]
6		^[7] ^[8]
7		^[9]
8		^[10] ^[11]
9		^[12]
10		^[13]
11		^[14]
12		^[15]
13		^[16]
14		^[17]
15		^[18]
16		^[19]
17		^[20]
18		^[21]
19		^[22]
20		^[23]
21		^[24]
22		^[25]
23		^[26]
24		^[27]
25		^[28]
26		^[29]
27		^[30]
28		^[31]
29		^[32]
30		^[33]
31
32
33		^[34]
34
35
36		^[35]
37		^[36]
—		^[37]
38		^[38]
39		^[39]
40		^[40]
41		^[41]
42		^[42]
43		^[43] ^[44]
44		^[45]
45		^[46]
46		^[47]
47		^[48]
48		^[49]
49		^[50]
50		^[51]
51		^[52]
52
53		^[53]
54		^[54] ^[55]
55
56
57		^[56]
58
59		^[57]
60		^[58]
61
62
63		^[59]
64		^[60]
65		^[61]
66
67
68		^[62]
69
70		^[63]
71		^[64]
72		^[65]
73
74		^[66]
75
76		^[67]
77
78
79
80
81		^[68]
82
83
84
85		^[69]
86
87
88		^[70]
89
90
91
92		^[71]
93
94
95		^[72]
—		^[73]
96
97		^[74]
98
99
100		^[75]
101		^[76]
102
103
104
105
106
107		^[77]
108
109		^[78]
110
111
112
113		^[79] ^[80]
114
115
116
117		^[81]
118
119
120
121
122
123
124		^[82]
125
126
127
128	Algeria
129		Unknown
130		Unknown
131		Unknown
132		Unknown
133		Unknown
134		Unknown
135		Unknown
136		Unknown
137		Unknown

Bilateral relations

Country	Formal an	Notes
Barbados	10 July 1973	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 10 July 1973.^[83] Both countries are full members of the Association of Caribbean States and the Commonwealth of Nations. The Commonwealth of the Bahamas is accredited to Barbados through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nassau,^[84] and an Honorary Consulate at St. James in Barbados.^[85] Barbados is accredited to the Commonwealth of the Bahamas through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bridgetown,^[86] and an Honorary Consulate in New Providence.^[87]
Belgium	12 December 1973	Bahamas has an embassy in Brussels. Belgium is accredited to the Bahamas from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States.
Belize	21 September 1981	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 21 September 1981.^[88] Both countries are full members of the Organization of American States and of the Caribbean Community.
Brazil	18 August 1978	Bahamas has a non-resident ambassador to Brazil based in Nassau. Brazil has an embassy in Nassau.
Canada	10 July 1973	Bahamas has a high commission in Ottawa. Canada is accredited to the Bahamas from its high commission in Kingston, Jamaica and maintains an honorary consulate in Nassau.
China	23 May 1997	See Bahamas–China relations Bahamas has an embassy in Beijing. China has an embassy in Nassau.
Cuba	30 November 1974	See Bahamas–Cuba relations A repatriation agreement was signed with Cuba in 1996, and there are commercial and cultural contacts between the two countries. Bahamas has an embassy in Havana. Cuba has an embassy in Nassau.
Guyana	10 July 1973	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 10 July 1973.^[89] Both countries are full members of the Organization of American States, of the Caribbean Community and of the Commonwealth of Nations.
Haiti	12 August 1977	See Bahamas–Haiti relations Prime Minister Hubert Minnis visited Port-au-Prince to discuss stemming illegal immigration from Haiti and a trade deal selling Haitian agricultural products to the Bahamas. Bahamas has an embassy in Port-au-Prince. Haiti has an embassy in Nassau.
India	16 October 1975	See Bahamas–India relations Bahamas is accredited to India from its high commission in New Delhi. India is accredited to the Bahamas from its high commission in Kingston, Jamaica.
Mexico	24 January 1974	See Bahamas–Mexico relations Bahamas is accredited to Mexico from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States.^[90] Mexico is accredited to the Bahamas from its embassy in Kingston, Jamaica and maintains an honorary consulate in Nassau.^[91]
Poland	30 August 2004	Bahamas does not have an accreditation to Poland. Poland is accredited to the Bahamas from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States and maintains an honorary consulate in Nassau.
	14 January 2004	The two countries signed accords on diplomatic relations on January 14, 2004. Since both countries have signed a joint communiqué, Sergey Lavrov states that the Bahamas and Russia decided to sign diplomatic missions on the ambassadorial level. Both countries are members of the United Nations. Russia is represented in the Bahamas through its consulate-general in New York City. On 24 July 2022, Russia added the Bahamas to its Unfriendly countries list.
Serbia	July 1988	Both countries have established diplomatic relations in July 1988.^[92] A number of bilateral agreements have been concluded and are in force in both countries.^[93]
	8 July 1985	See Bahamas–South Korea relationsThe two countries have good relations.^[94]
Turkey	5 November 1974^[95]	See Bahamas–Turkey relations Bahamas does not have an accreditation to Turkey. Turkey is accredited to the Bahamas from its embassy in Havana, Cuba. Trade volume between the two countries was 86.1 million USD in 2019.
United Kingdom	10 July 1973	Bahamas has a high commission in London. United Kingdom has a high commission in Nassau.
United States	10 July 1973	See Bahamas–United States relations The Bahamas and the United States historically have had close economic and commercial relations. The countries share ethnic and cultural ties, especially in education; The Bahamas is home to approximately 30,000 American residents. In addition, there are about 110 U.S.-related businesses in The Bahamas and, in 2005, 87% of the 5 million tourists visiting The Bahamas were American. As a neighbour, The Bahamas and its political stability are especially important to the United States. The U.S. and the Bahamian governments have worked together on reducing crime and addressing migration issues. With the closest island only 45 miles from the coast of Florida, The Bahamas often is used as a gateway for drugs and illegal aliens bound for the United States. The United States and The Bahamas cooperate closely to handle these threats. U.S. assistance and resources have been essential to Bahamian efforts to mitigate the persistent flow of illegal narcotics and migrants through the archipelago. The United States and The Bahamas also actively cooperate on law enforcement, civil aviation, marine research, meteorology, and agricultural issues. The U.S. Navy operates an underwater research facility on Andros Island. The Department of Homeland Security's Bureau of Customs and Border Protection maintains "preclearance" facilities at the airports in Nassau and Freeport. Travelers to the U.S. are interviewed and inspected before departure, allowing faster connection times in the U.S. Bahamas has an embassy in Washington, D.C., and consulates-general in Atlanta, Miami and New York City. United States has an embassy in Nassau.

Multilateral memberships

The Bahamas holds memberships in a number of international organizations: the UN and some specialized and related agencies, including the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), International Labour Organization (ILO), International Monetary Fund (IMF), International Telecommunication Union (ITU), World Bank, World Meteorological Organization (WMO), and World Health Organization (WHO); the OAS and related agencies, including the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), and Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO); the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), excluding its Caribbean Single Market and Economy; the International Criminal Police Organization – Interpol; the Universal Postal Union (UPU); the International Maritime Organization (IMO); and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

See also

• List of diplomatic missions in the Bahamas
• List of diplomatic missions of the Bahamas
• Visa requirements for Bahamian citizens
• North American Union
• North American Free Trade Agreement
• Free Trade Area of the Americas
• Third Border Initiative
• Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI)
• Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act
• Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative

References

• • • Establishment of diplomatic missions between the Bahamas and Russia

United States

• The United States Department of State – The Bahamas
• The Embassy of the United States of America
• The Bahamas-Sub Office of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation

External links

• History of Bahamas–U.S. relations

Notes and References

1. Book: The Diplomatic Service List. Stationery Office. 1978. 127.
2. Web site: A Guide to the United States' History of Recognition, Diplomatic, and Consular Relations, by Country, since 1776: The Bahamas.
3. Web site: List of countries with which Barbados has established diplomatic relations. https://web.archive.org/web/20170813184054/https://www.foreign.gov.bb/documents/foreign-policy/22-countries-with-diplomaic-relations-with-barbados/file. 2017-08-13. live.
4. Web site: Bahamas. 5 June 2014 .
5. Book: A Guide to Canadian Diplomatic Relations, 1925-1983. Canadian Library Association. 1985. 13.
6. Web site: Bahamas: Steckbrief. MFA Germany (in German).
7. Web site: Bahamian Non-Resident High Commissioner (Designate) Calls on Foreign Minister of Guyana.
8. Web site: CABINET APPROVES APPOINTMENTS OF NEW DIPLOMATS.
9. Web site: 16 April 2021. Countries with which Jamaica has Established Diplomatic Relations. https://web.archive.org/web/20160308040029/http://mfaft.gov.jm/jm/establishment-of-diplomatic-relations. 8 March 2016. 16 April 2021.
10. Web site: Forging Bilateral and Multilateral Ties.
11. Book: Les diplomates belges. Editions Mardaga. 2010. 196.
12. Web site: THE BAHAMAS CONGRATULATES THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA ON THE OCCASION OF ITS NATIONAL HOLIDAY.
13. Web site: Dr. Newry appointed Non-resident Ambassador of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas to Mexico.
14. Web site: Costa Rica 196TH National Day.
15. Book: Jaarboek van het Departement van Buitenlandse Zaken . Netherlands. Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken . 1974 . 105 . nl.
16. Book: Memoria - Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Culto. Argentina. Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Culto. 1974. 20. es. Los Gobiernos de Argentina y de Bahamas por un comunicado conjunto, del 17 de junio de 1974, decidieron establecer relaciones diplomáticas....
17. Book: The Annual Register, Volume 216. Longmans. 1974. 182.
18. Web site: The French Republic celebrates the 229th Bastille Day.
19. Book: Jewish Currents - Volume 28. Jewish Currents. 1974. 13.
20. Book: Milletlerarası münasebetler Türk yıllığı, Volume 14. Dış Münasebetler Enstitüsü, Siyasal Bilgiler Fakültesi, Ankara Üniversitesi, 1976. 150.
21. Web site: Courtesy Call by the Cuban Ambassador to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
22. Web site: Bahamas and Japan sign Tax Information Exchange Agreement.
23. Web site: Iceland - Establishment of Diplomatic Relations.
24. Web site: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Fiji. Formal Diplomatic List. https://web.archive.org/web/20190827171052/http://www.foreignaffairs.gov.fj/images/FDR_LIST_version_of_6_June_2016.pdf. 2019-08-27. live.
25. Web site: Signing of Visa Waiver Agreement for Bahamian and Indian Holders of Diplomatic and Official Passports.
26. Book: A Year Book of the Commonwealth . Great Britain. Foreign and Commonwealth Office . 1975 . 111 . 28 January 2024.
27. Book: A Year Book of the Commonwealth . Great Britain. Foreign and Commonwealth Office . 1975 . 111 . 28 January 2024.
28. Web site: Today we celebrate 41 years of formal diplomatic relations with the Bahamas!.
29. Web site: 3. RELACIONES BILATERALES CON ESPAÑA.
30. Web site: Message from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the National Day of Grenada.
31. Book: Boletín del Archivo de la Casa Amarilla, Issue 8. República de Venezuela, Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Dirección General Sectorial de Biblioteca, Documentación y Archivo, Dirección de Archivo e Investigación Histórica, División de Investigación Histórica. 2001.
32. Web site: Bahamas Mitra Penting Indonesia di Kawasan Karibia. Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Havana, The Republic of Cuba (in Indonesian) .
33. Web site: Diplomatic relations between Bahamas and .... 1 January 2021. United Nations Digital Library.
34. Web site: Ambassador Ellison E. Greenslade QPM presents Letters of Credence to His Majesty the King of Sweden.
35. Web site: Commonwealth des Bahamas . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131115130802/http://www.diplomatie.ma/Politique%C3%A9trang%C3%A8re/Amerique/Am%C3%A9riqueduNordetCara%C3%AFbes/tabid/140/vw/1/ItemID/8353/language/en-US/Default.aspx . 15 November 2013 . 20 November 2023 . Royaume du Maroc Ministere des Affaires Etrangeres et de la Cooperation . fr.
36. Web site: Ambassador of The Bahamas Presents Credentials in Italy.
37. Web site: Diplomatic Relations Of The Holy See.
38. Web site: Diplomatieke betrekkingen Suriname. https://web.archive.org/web/20190416134520/http://www.gov.sr/media/12102008/lijst-van-diplomatieke-betrekkingen-en-visum-afschaffingsovereenkomsten.pdf. 2019-04-16. live.
39. Web site: List of countries with which Saint Lucia has established Diplomatic Relations . 16 July 2023 . 16 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230716120234/https://www.stlucia.gov.lc/diplomatic-relations . dead .
40. Web site: DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS – BELIZE. https://web.archive.org/web/20171230194831/http://www.mfa.gov.bz/images/documents/DIPLOMATIC%20RELATIONS.pdf. 2017-12-30. live.
41. Book: Latin America Report No. 2610 . United States Joint Publications Research Service . 1982 . 4 . 28 December 2023.
42. Book: Daily Report: Latin America. Index - Volume 5 - Page 10 . United States. Foreign Broadcast Information Service 1983.
43. Book: Bahamas Dateline: Business, Investment, Real Estate - Volumes 8-13. Bahamas Dateline. 1983.
44. Web site: Message from Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration of The Bahamas on Bolivia's 191st Anniversary of Independence.
45. Book: DTIC ADA351816: Near East/South Asia Report . 28 March 1985 . Defense Technical Information Center . 120 . 19 January 2024.
46. Web site: Overview Commonwealth of the Bahamas.
47. Book: A Year Book of the Commonwealth. H.M. Stationery Office. 1986. 110.
48. Web site: Bahamas and Ivory Coast Seek Stronger Ties in Tourism & Financial Services.
49. Web site: BILATERAL ISSUES WITH FOREIGN COUNTRIES . https://web.archive.org/web/20170101003647/https://www.mfa.gov.rs/en/foreign-policy/bilateral-issues/96-bilateral-issues/12236-bahamas . 1 January 2017 . dead.
50. Web site: Zimbabwe 42nd Independence.
51. Web site: Ambassador of Chile makes Courtesy Call on MOFA.
52. Web site: RELACIONES DIPLOMÁTICAS DE LA REPÚBLICA DE PANAMÁ. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20200806131148/https://mire.gob.pa/sites/default/files/documentos/Trasnsparencia/gestion-anual-2011-2012.pdf. 6 August 2020. 30 November 2021. 195.
53. News: 17 January 2011. The Bahamas seeks Denmark's support in WTO membership. Bahamas Local.
54. Web site: c) Con anterioridad al presente acuerdo, en fecha cuarto(4) de septiembre del año mil novecientos noventa y uno (1991), anbos gobiernos decidieron formalizar las relaciones diplomáticas a nivel de Embajadores concurrentes.
55. Web site: Message from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the National Day of the Dominican Republic.
56. Book: Information Services on Latin America 44. I.S.L.A.. 1992. 211.
57. Web site: PAISES CON LOS CUALES EL SALVADOR TIENERELACIONES DIPLOMATICAS.
58. Web site: Bahamas Welcomes First Ambassador of Hellenic Republic.
59. News: 23 September 2021. GOVERNMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF BAHAMAS EXTENDS SINCEREST CONGRATULATIONS TO ST. KITTS & NEVIS ON 38 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE. SKNIS. 10 November 2012.
60. Web site: 2016. Message from the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration on the National Day of Seychelles. 1 January 2022.
61. Web site: Congratulations Extended to Trinidad and Tobago Celebrating 55th Independence.
62. Web site: Congratulations Extended to Swaziland Celebrating Independence.
63. Web site: 20 June 2017. Bahamas Sends Condolences to Vanuatu on Passing of President Reverend Baldwin Lonsdale. 1 January 2022.
64. Web site: Botswana: Mogae Off to Bahamas On Four-Day Official Visit.
65. Web site: Senarai tarikh penubuhan hubungan diplomatik Malaysia dan negara - negara luar. 13 November 2021. ms. 13 November 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211113141021/https://www.data.gov.my/data/dataset/30411e5d-8c25-47fb-940e-0d51149afe20/resource/fc684f56-c8bb-4f65-ab65-8eb5e68c9b5d/download/01-tarikh-penubuhan-hubungan-diplomatik-malaysia.xlsx. dead.
66. Web site: Political cooperation. gov.pl.
67. Web site: Bahamy. 1 January 2022. sk.
68. News: 11 February 2005. Pakistan and Bahamas establish diplomatic ties. 1 January 2022.
69. Web site: The Bahamas. MFA Lithuania.
70. Web site: Finland and Bahamas.
71. Web site: Diplomatic Relations of Romania.
72. Web site: Namibian High Commissioner calls on Bahamas Ambassador Newry.
73. Web site: Diplomatic Relations Established Between the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.
74. Web site: Ghana seeking new areas of cooperation with Bahamas. The Bahamas Weekly .
75. Web site: The Bahamas establishes diplomatic relations with Qatar.
76. Web site: Kazakhstan establishes diplomatic relations with the Bahamas.
77. Web site: Overview of Bilateral Treaties of the Republic of Croatia by Country.
78. Web site: Diplomatic Relations established between The Bahamas and Montenegro.
79. Web site: Credentials Ceremony 27 June 2019.
80. Web site: HE Mr Mark Holowesko, High Commissioner of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, presented his credentials to the Governor-General of New Zealand.
81. Web site: Belarus establishes diplomatic relations with the Bahamas.
82. Web site: Delighted to announce the beginning of the journey to establish diplomatic relations with the Bahamas. . 19 January 2024.
83. Web site: Archived copy . 2019-09-09 . 2018-03-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180324035326/http://www.foreign.gov.bb/documents/foreign-policy/22-countries-with-diplomaic-relations-with-barbados/file . dead .
84. https://www.foreign.gov.bb/documents/foreign-policy/58-diplomatic-missions-accredited-to-barbados/file Accridation to Barbados
85. Web site: NON RESIDENT DIPLOMATIC CORPS – Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Bahamas.
86. Web site: DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS ACCREDITED TO BARBADOS . 2019-09-09 . 2018-07-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180724011738/http://www.foreign.gov.bb/documents/foreign-policy/58-diplomatic-missions-accredited-to-barbados/file . dead .
87. https://mofa.gov.bs/diplomatic-relations/resident-diplomatic-corps/ Resident Honorary Consular Corp
88. Web site: Archived copy . 2019-02-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171230194831/http://www.mfa.gov.bz/images/documents/DIPLOMATIC%20RELATIONS.pdf . 2017-12-30 . dead .
89. Web site: Countries with which Guyana has Establishment Diplomatic Relations – Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation| Co-operative Republic of Guyana. 2019-02-24. 2019-02-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20190216065040/https://www.minfor.gov.gy/diplomatic-relations/. dead.
90. http://www.bahamasembdc.org/ Embassy of the Bahamas in the United States
91. https://embamex.sre.gob.mx/jamaica/index.php/es/ Embassy of Mexico in Jamaica
92. Web site: Bahamas . 2016-12-31 . 2020-07-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200704080236/http://www.mfa.gov.rs/en/foreign-policy/bilateral-issues/96-bilateral-issues/12236-bahamas . dead .
93. Web site: Archived copy . 2016-12-31 . 2017-01-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170101003226/http://www.mfa.gov.rs/en/images/stories/bilaterala_ugovori/THE%20BAHAMAS.doc . dead .
94. Web site: Search | Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea .
95. Web site: Relations between Turkey and the Commonwealth of Bahamas. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey.