Until independence in 1975, São Tomé and Príncipe had few ties abroad except those that passed through Portugal. Following independence, the new government sought to expand its diplomatic relationships. A common language, tradition, and colonial legacy have led to close collaboration between São Tomé and other ex-Portuguese colonies in Africa, particularly Angola. São Toméan relations with other African countries in the region, such as Gabon and the Republic of the Congo, are also good. In December 2000, São Tomé signed the African Union treaty; it was later ratified by the National Assembly.
The São Toméan government has generally maintained a foreign policy based on nonalignment and cooperation with any country willing to assist in its economic development. In recent years, it has also increasingly emphasized ties to the United States and western Europe.
Diplomatic relations
List of countries which São Tomé and Príncipe maintains diplomatic relations with:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! colspan="3" |frameless|425x425px
|-
!#
!Country
!Date
|-
|1
|
|
|-
|2
|
|
|-
|3
|
|
|-
|4
|
|
|-
|5
|
|
|-
|6
|
|
|-
|7
|
|
|-
|8
|
|
|-
|9
|
|
|-
|10
|
|
|-
|11
|
|
|-
|12
|
|
|-
|13
|
|
|-
|14
|
|
|-
|15
|
|
|-
|16
|
|
|-
|18
|
|
|-
|19
|
|
|-
|20
|
|
|-
|21
|
|
|-
|22
|
|
|-
|23
|
|
|-
|24
|
|
|-
|25
|
|
|-
|26
|
|
|-
|27
|
|
|-
|28
|
|
|-
|29
|
|
|-
|30
|
|
|-
|31
|
|
|-
|33
|
|
|-
|35
|
|
|-
|39
|
|
|-
|40
|
|
|-
|41
|
|
|-
|—
|
|
|-
|42
|
|
|-
|43
|
|
|-
|44
|
|
|-
|47
|
|
|-
|48
|
|
|-
|49
|
|
|-
|51
|
|
|-
|53
|
|
|-
|54
|
|
|-
|—
|
|
|-
|56
|
|
|-
|58
|
|
|-
|59
|
|
|-
|61
|
|
|-
|62
|
|
|-
|63
|
|
|-
|64
|
|
|-
|65
|
|
|-
|—
|
|
|-
|68
|
|
|-
|75
|
|
|-
|78
|
|
|-
|79
|
|
|-
|81
|
|
|-
|82
|
|
|-
|83
|
|
|-
|85
|
|
|-
|86
|
|
|-
|87
|
|
|-
|89
|
|
|-
|91
|
|
|-
|92
|
|
|-
|93
|
|
|-
|94
|
|
|-
|95
|
|
|-
|100
|
|
|-
|101
|
|
|-
|103
|
|
|-
|104
|
|
|-
|107
|
|
|-
|108
|
|
|-
|109
|
|
|-
|112
|
|
|-
|114
|
|
|-
|115
|
|
|-
|116
|
|Unknown
|-
|117
|
|Unknown
|-
|118
|
|Unknown
|-
|119
|
|Unknown
|-
|120
|
|Unknown
|-
|121
|
|Unknown
|-
|122
|
|Unknown
|}
Bilateral relations
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%; margin:auto;"
! style="width:120pt;"| Country
! style="width:120pt;"| Formal relations began
!class="unsortable"|Notes
|- valign="top"
|||19 February 1978||Both countries established diplomatic relations on 19 February 1978
- Australia is represented in São Tomé and Príncipe from its embassy in Lisbon, Portugal.
- São Tomé and Príncipe is represented in Australia by from its embassy in Lisbon, Portugal. Both countries are full members of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries.
- Brazil has an embassy in São Tomé.
- São Tomé and Príncipe is accredited to Brazil from its Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York City, United States.
|- valign="top"
|||10 November 2008||
- Cape Verde has an embassy in São Tomé.
- São Tomé and Príncipe maintains an embassy in Praia.
|- valign="top"
|||<!--Date started-->12 July 1975, severed diplomatic relations 6 May 1997, Restored 26 December 2016 On 15 November 2013, an unofficial PRC trade mission office was established in São Tomé and Príncipe to facilitate the non-political commercial ties with the PRC. However, in June 2014, President Manuel Pinto da Costa made a private visit to Shanghai in Mainland China for a non-political mission.
São Tomé and Príncipe had been speaking at the United Nations General Assembly for ROC meaningful participation in international organizations. While on the other side, ROC has provided various aids to the country for the development in their infrastructure and social system.
São Tomé and Príncipe severed relations with ROC on 20 December 2016, leaving Burkina Faso and Swaziland as the only two remaining African nations retaining formal relations with the ROC, when the ROC government reportedly turned down a São Toméan request for $210 million in financial assistance. Diplomatic relations between PRC and São Tomé and Príncipe resumed on 26 December 2016.
|- valign="top"
|||March 1976||
- Egypt is represented in São Tomé and Príncipe by its embassy in Luanda, Angola.
- Both countries are full members of the African Union.
|- valign="top"
|||1975||
- Gabon has an embassy in São Tomé.
- São Tomé and Príncipe has an embassy in Libreville.
|- valign="top"
|||14 August 1975||See India–São Tomé and Príncipe relations
- India has an embassy in São Tomé.
- São Tomé and Príncipe has an honorary consulate in New Delhi.
|- valign="top"
|||1981
|- valign="top"
|||12 July 1975||See Portugal–São Tomé and Príncipe relations
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 12 July 1975.
- Both countries have a number of bilateral agreements.
|- valign="top"
|||20 August 1988||
Establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Korea and São Tomé and Príncipe was August 20, 1988.
|- valign="top"
|||12 July 1975||
- Embassy of São Tomé and Príncipe in Lisbon is accredited to Turkey.
- The Turkish Embassy in Libreville is accredited to São Tomé and Príncipe.
|}
See also
- List of diplomatic missions in São Tomé and Príncipe
- List of diplomatic missions of São Tomé and Príncipe