The Seychelles follows a policy of what it describes as "positive" nonalignment and strongly supports the principle of reduced superpower presence in the Indian Ocean. The Seychelles' foreign policy position has placed it generally toward the left of the spectrum within the Non-Aligned Movement. Russia, the United Kingdom, France, India, the People's Republic of China, Libya and Cuba maintain embassies in Victoria.
The government of the Seychelles withdrew diplomatic recognition of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic on March 17, 2008, according to an official government source.
Trends
The Seychelles government is one of the proponents of the Indian Ocean zone of peace concept and it has promoted an end to the United States presence on Diego Garcia. The country has adopted a pragmatic policy, however, and serves as an important rest and recreation stop for US ships serving in the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean.
In its foreign relations, the Seychelles maximizes the benefits it receives from both China and India by taking advantage of those two countries' rivalry with respect to the strategic waterway in which the Seychelles exists.
Diplomatic relations
List of countries which the Seychelles 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
|
|
|-
|17
|
|
|-
|18
|
|
|-
|19
|
|
|-
|20
|
|
|-
|21
|
|
|-
|22
|
|
|-
|23
|
|
|-
|24
|
|
|-
|25
|
|
|-
|26
|
|
|-
|27
|
|
|-
|28
|
|
|-
|29
|
|
|-
|30
|
|
|-
|31
|
|
|-
|32
|
|
|-
|33
|
|
|-
|34
|
|
|-
|35
|
|
|-
|36
|
|
|-
|37
|
|
|-
|38
|
|
|-
|39
|
|
|-
|40
|
|
|-
|41
|
|
|-
|42
|
|
|-
|43
|
|
|-
|44
|
|
|-
|45
|
|
|-
|46
|
|
|-
|47
|
|
|-
|48
|
|
|-
|49
|
|
|-
|50
|
|
|-
|51
|
|
|-
|52
|
|
|-
|53
|
|
|-
|—
|
|
|-
|54
|
|
|-
|55
|
|
|-
|56
|
|
|-
|57
|
|
|-
|58
|
|
|-
|59
|
|
|-
|60
|
|
|-
|61
|
|
|-
|62
|
|
|-
|63
|
|
|-
|64
|
|
|-
|65
|
|
|-
|66
|
|
|-
|67
|
|
|-
|68
|
|
|-
|69
|
|
|-
|70
|
|
|-
|71
|
|
|-
|72
|
|
|-
|73
|
|
|-
|74
|
|
|-
|75
|
|
|-
|76
|
|
|-
|77
|
|
|-
|78
|
|
|-
|79
|
|
|-
|80
|
|
|-
|81
|
|
|-
|82
|
|
|-
|83
|
|
|-
|84
|
|
|-
|85
|
|
|-
|86
|
|
|-
|87
|
|
|-
|88
|
|
|-
|89
|
|
|-
|90
|
|
|-
|—
|
|
|-
|91
|
|
|-
|92
|
|
|-
|93
|
|
|-
|94
|
|
|-
|95
|
|
|-
|96
|
|
|-
|97
|
|
|-
|98
|
|
|-
|99
|
|
|-
|100
|
|
|-
|101
|
|
|-
|102
|
|
|-
|103
|
|
|-
|104
|
|
|-
|105
|
|
|-
|106
|
|
|-
|107
|
|
|-
|108
|
|
|-
|109
|
|
|-
|110
|
|
|-
|111
|
|
|-
|112
|
|
|-
|113
|
|
|-
|114
|
|
|-
|—
|
|
|-
|115
|
|
|-
|116
|
|
|-
|117
|
|
|-
|118
|
|
|-
|119
|
|
|-
|120
|
|
|-
|121
|
|
|-
|122
|
|
|-
|123
|
|
|-
|124
|
|
|-
|125
|
|
|-
|126
|
|
|-
|127
|
|
|-
|128
|
|
|-
|129
|
|
|-
|130
|
|
|-
|131
|
|
|-
|132
|
|
|-
|133
|
|
|-
|134
|
|
|-
|135
|
|
|-
|136
|
|
|-
|137
|
|
|-
|138
|
|
|-
|139
|
|
|-
|140
|
|
|-
|141
|
|
|-
|142
|
|
|-
|143
|
|
|-
|144
|
|
|-
|145
|
|
|-
|146
|
|
|-
|147
|
|
|-
|148
|
|
|-
|149
|
|
|-
|150
|
|
|-
|151
|
|
|-
|152
|
|
|-
|153
|
|
|-
|154
|
|
|-
|155
|
|
|-
|156
|
|
|-
|157
|
|
|-
|158
|
|
|-
|159
|
|
|-
|160
|
|
|-
|161
|
|
|-
|162
|
|
|-
|163
|
|
|-
|164
|
|
|-
|165
|
|
|-
|166
|
|
|-
|167
|
|
|-
|—
|
|
|-
|168
|
|
|-
|169
|
|
|-
|170
|
|
|-
|171
|
|
|-
|172
|
|
|-
|173
|
|
|-
|174
|
|
|-
|175
|
|
|-
|176
|
|
|-
|177
|
|
|-
|178
|
|
|-
|179
|
|Unknown
|-
|180
|
|Unknown
- Mauritius has an honorary consulate in Victoria.
- Seychelles has an honorary consulate in Port Louis.
Both are the members of Commonwealth of Nations and La Francophonie.
|}
Americas
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%; margin:auto;"
|-
! style="width:15%;"| Country
! style="width:12%;"| Formal Relations Began
!Notes
|- valign="top"
|||12 April 1978||Diplomatic relations between Seychelles and Cuba established as of 12 April 1978 and 26 April 2017 President Seychelles inauguration Embassy of Seychelles in Havana,Cuba In 2022, Seychelles closed its embassy in Havana.
- Cuba has an embassy in Victoria.
- Seychelles does not have an accreditation to Cuba.
|- valign="top"
|||1 June 1986||Diplomatic relations between Seychelles and Mexico established as of 1 June 1986
- Mexico is accredited to the Seychelles from its embassy in Nairobi, Kenya.
- Seychelles does not have an accreditation to Mexico.
|- valign="top"
|||1 July 1976||See Seychelles–United States relations
- Seychelles is accredited to the United States from its Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York City.
- United States has an embassy in Victoria.
|}
Asia
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%; margin:auto;"
|-
! style="width:15%;"| Country
! style="width:12%;"| Formal Relations Began
!Notes
|- valign="top"
|||30 June 1976||See China–Seychelles relations
- China has an embassy in Victoria.
- Seychelles has an embassy in Beijing and a consulate-general in Shanghai.
|- valign="top"
|||29 June 1976||See India–Seychelles relations Diplomatic relations between Seychelles and India established as of 29 June 1976
In an effort to reduce the increasing piracy in the nearby region, Seychelles requested the Indian Navy to carry out anti-piracy operations in her waters. This made India-Seychelles relations stronger. The Seychelles also praised the Indian Navy for their anti-piracy operations.
- Seychelles maintains a High Commission in New Delhi.
|- valign="top"
|||1 May 1987||See Malaysia–Seychelles relations
- Malaysia is accredited to Seychelles from its embassy in Harare, Zimbabwe.
- Seychelles has a high commission in Kuala Lumpur.
|- valign="top"
|||29 June 1976 and 24 August 1976||See North Korea–Seychelles relations
Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the North Korea and the Republic of Seychelles is June 28, 1976.
From 1980, DPR Korea and Seychelles have a good relations in military.
|- valign="top"
|||22 June 1995||Diplomatic relations between Seychelles and Turkey established as of 22 June 1995
- Embassy of Seychelles in Paris is accredited to Turkey.
- The Turkish Embassy in Nairobi is accredited to Seychelles.
- Seychelles has an embassy in Abu Dhabi.
- UAE has an embassy in Victoria.
|- valign="top"
|||16 August 1979||
President James Alix Michel's official visited to Vietnam in August, 2013. The statement says this is an official visit to Vietnam made by a high-ranking leader of Seychelles.
Both countries are members of La Francophonie.
|}
Europe
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%; margin:auto;"
|-
! style="width:15%;"| Country
! style="width:12%;"| Formal Relations Began
!Notes
|- valign="top"
|||1 July 1976||Diplomatic relations between Seychelles and Cyprus established as of 1 July 1976
- Both countries a members of the Commonwealth of Nations
- List of bilateral agreements.
- Cyprus is represented in Seychelles through its embassy in Muscat, Oman.
- Seychelles is represented in Cyprus through its High Commission in London, United Kingdom. Two countries are a member of La Francophonie.
|- valign="top"
|||29 June 1976||Diplomatic relations between Seychelles and France established as of 29 June 1976thumb|right|Embassy of Seychelles in Paris
- France has an embassy in Victoria.
- Seychelles has an embassy in Paris.
- Seychelles claimed the French-owned Glorioso Islands in the Indian Ocean before the France–Seychelles Maritime Boundary Agreement.
- Both countries are members of La Francophonie.
|- valign="top"
|||16 July 1980||Diplomatic relations between Seychelles and Greece established as of 16 July 1980
- Greece is accredited to Seychelles from its embassy in Nairobi, Kenya.
- Seychelles is accredited to Greece from its embassy in Paris, France.
- Russia has an embassy in Victoria.
- Seychelles is accredited to Russia from its embassy in Paris, France and maintains an honorary consulate in Saint Petersburg.
|- valign="top"
|||10 March 1981||
- Diplomatic relations between Seychelles and Switzerland established as of 10 March 1981
- Both countries are full members of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie.
- Seychelles is accredited to Switzerland from its embassy in Paris, France.
- Switzerland is accredited to Seychelles from its embassy in Antananarivo, Madagascar.
|- valign="top"
||| 29 June 1976 || See Seychelles–United Kingdom relations
thumb|right|[[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|British Prime Minister David Cameron with Seychellois Prime Minister James Michel in 10 Downing Street, February 2012]]
Seychelles established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 29 June 1976.
- The United Kingdom is accredited to Seychelles through its high commission in Victoria.
The UK governed Seychelles from 1811 to 1968, when Seychelles achieved full independence.
Both countries share common membership of the Commonwealth, the International Criminal Court, the United Nations, the World Health Organization, and the World Trade Organization, as well as the Eastern and Southern Africa–UK Economic Partnership Agreement. Bilaterally the two countries have an Economic Security Partnership.
|}
The Seychelles and the Commonwealth of Nations
The Seychelles is a member state of the Commonwealth of Nations.
See also
- List of diplomatic missions in Seychelles
- List of diplomatic missions of Seychelles