Lesotho's geographic location makes it extremely vulnerable to political and economic developments in South Africa. Its capital is the small city of Maseru. It is a member of many regional economic organizations including the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). Lesotho also is active in the United Nations, the Organisation of African Unity, now the African Union, the Non-Aligned Movement, and many other international organizations. In addition to the Republic of Korea, the United States, South Africa, Ireland, People's Republic of China, Libya, and the European Union all currently retain resident diplomatic missions in Lesotho. Foreign relations of Lesotho are administered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations.
Lesotho has historically maintained generally close ties with Ireland (Lesotho's largest bilateral aid donor), the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and other Western states. Although Lesotho decided in 1990 to break relations with the People's Republic of China (P.R.C.) and re-establish relations with the Republic of China (commonly known by its main island as Taiwan), it had restored ties with the P.R.C. in 1994.
Diplomatic relations
List of countries which Lesotho maintains diplomatic relations with:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! colspan="3" |frameless|425x425px
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!#
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!Date
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|1
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|5
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|42
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|51
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|52
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|61
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|62
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|70
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|74
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|80
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|—
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|81
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|82
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|84
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|86
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|87
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|88
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|91
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|111
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|114
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|120
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|124
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|125
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|126
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|—
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|—
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|127
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|128
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|129
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|130
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|131
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|132
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|133
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|}
Bilateral relations
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%; margin:auto;"
|-
! style="width:15%;" | Country
! style="width:12%;" | Formal Relations Began
!Notes
|- valign="top"
|||<!--Date started-->1967||See Canada–Lesotho relations
- Canada is represented in Lesotho via parallel accreditation of its high commission in Pretoria, South Africa and has an honorary consulate in Maseru.
- Since 2006, Lesotho has a high commission in Ottawa
- Cyprus is represented in Lesotho through its High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa.
- Lesotho is represented in Cyprus via parallel accreditation of its High Commission in London.
- Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations.
|- valign="top"
|||||See France–Lesotho relations
- France is accredited to Lesotho from its embassy in Pretoria, South Africa.
- Lesotho is accredited to France from its embassy in Berlin, Germany.
|-
|
|1966
- Lesotho has an embassy in Berlin.
|- valign="top"
|||31 January 1977||Both countries established diplomatic relations on 31 January 1977
- Lesotho is represented in Greece via parallel accreditation of its embassy in Rome, Italy.||See India–Lesotho relations
- The High Commission in Pretoria has been concurrently accredited to Lesotho.
- Lesotho has a High Commission in New Delhi.
|- valign="top"
|||14 June 2005||
Lesotho has significant relations with Ireland. On 13 November 1997, Liz O'Donnell (Irish Minister for State) spoke about the relationship between the two nations and Ireland's future commitment towards Lesotho. The Irish Prime Minister, Bertie Ahern visited Lesotho in 2000. This relationship was further strengthened by a visit from the then President of Ireland Mary McAleese between 14 and 16 June 2006 on her speech about the long-standing relationship with Lesotho and shared history between both nations.
The Irish Government has donated aid to Lesotho since 1975. Donations to Lesotho is Ireland's longest running aid programme. On 14 February 2005, Lesotho announced that Ireland is the largest bilateral donor with financial support in excess of M70 million in each of the past three years. Ireland also supports Lesotho's Flying Doctor Service, education, sanitation, water and various health such as the Fight against AIDS with the Clinton Foundation.
|- valign="top"
|||14 November 1975||
- Lesotho is accredited to Mexico from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States.
- Mexico is accredited to Lesotho from its embassy in Pretoria, South Africa.
|- valign="top"
|||<!--Date started-->7 December 1966||
Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Republic of Korea and Lesotho is 7 December 1966 and in 2011 Bilateral Trade were Exports $27,330,000, Imports: $290,000.
|- valign="top"
|||1980||
- Embassy of Lesotho in Rome is accredited to Turkey.
- Turkish ambassador in Pretoria to South Africa is also accredited to Lesotho.
- The United Kingdom is accredited to Lesotho through its high commission in Maseru.
The UK governed Lesotho from 1868 to 1966, when it achieved full independence.
Both countries share common membership of the Commonwealth and the World Trade Organization, as well as the SACUM–UK Economic Partnership Agreement. Bilaterally the two countries have an Investment Agreement.
|- valign="top"
|||4 October 1966
15 April 2025
|See Lesotho-United States relations
The United States was one of the first four countries to establish an embassy in Maseru after Lesotho gained its independence from Great Britain in 1966. Since this time, Lesotho and the United States have consistently maintained warm bilateral relations. In 1996, the United States closed its bilateral aid program in Lesotho. The Southern African regional office of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in Gaborone, Botswana now administers most of the U.S. assistance to Lesotho, which totalled approximately $2 million in FY 2004. Total U.S. aid to Lesotho is over $69 million, including humanitarian food assistance. The Peace Corps has operated in Lesotho since 1969.About 69 Peace Corps volunteers concentrate in the sectors of health, agriculture, education, rural community development, and the environment. The Government of Lesotho encourages greater American participation in commercial life and welcomes interest from potential U.S. investors and suppliers. In 2007, the Government of Lesotho signed a compact with the Millennium Challenge Corporation to provide $362.5 million in support to develop Lesotho's water sector, healthcare infrastructure, and private sector.
The Lesotho Communications Authority granted Starlink, a company owned by Elon Musk a license to operate for 10 years in Lesotho.
|}
Notable people
<!---♦♦♦ Only add a person to this list if they already have their own article on the English Wikipedia ♦♦♦--->
<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order by LAST NAME ♦♦♦--->
- Lefa Mokotjo (1999–2005), ambassador of the Kingdom of Lesotho to the People's Republic of China
See also
- List of diplomatic missions in Lesotho
References
External links
- Further Reading from Irish Department of Foreign Affairs