Foreign relations of the Republic of the Congo

For the two decades preceding the Republic of the Congo's 1991 National Conference, the country was firmly in the socialist camp, allied principally with the Soviet Union and other Eastern bloc nations. Educational, economic, and foreign aid links between Congo and its Eastern bloc allies were extensive, with the Congolese military and security forces receiving significant Soviet, East German, and Cuban assistance.

After the worldwide dissolution of the Soviet Union and Congo's adoption of multi-party democracy in 1991, Congo's bilateral relations with its former socialist allies have become relatively less important. France is now by far Congo's principal external partner, contributing significant amounts of economic assistance, while playing a highly influential role.

Congo-Brazzaville is also a member of the International Criminal Court with a Bilateral Immunity Agreement of protection for the US-military.

Membership in international organizations includes the United Nations, Organisation of African Unity, African Development Bank, General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), Economic Commission for Central African States, Central African Customs and Economic Union, International Coffee Organization, Union of Central African States, Intelsat, International Criminal Police Organization - Interpol, Non-Aligned Movement, and Group of 77.

Disputes - international: most of the Congo River boundary with the Democratic Republic of the Congo is indefinite (no agreement has been reached on the division of the river or its islands, except in the Pool Malebo (Stanley Pool) area.

Diplomatic relations

List of countries which the Republic of the Congo maintains diplomatic relations with:

{| class="wikitable sortable"

! colspan="3" |frameless|425x425px

!Country

!Date

|11

|13

|14

|15

|16

|—

|17

|18

|19

|20

|23

|24

|25

|26

|27

|28

|29

|30

|31

|32

|33

|34

|35

|36

|37

|38

|39

|42

|43

|44

|45

|47

|48

|49

|50

|51

|52

|54

|55

|57

|58

|59

|60

|61

|62

|63

|64

|65

|66

|67

|68

|69

|70

|71

|72

|74

|77

|78

|79

|80

|81

|82

|—

|83

|84

|85

|86

|87

|89

|95

|96

|97

|99

|100

|101

|103

|106

|110

|112

|113

|115

|123

|126

|128

|129

|130

|131

|132

|133

|135

|136

|137

|138

|139

|140

|141

|142

|143

|144

|145

Bilateral relations

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%; margin:auto;"

! style="width:15%;" | Country

! style="width:12%;" | Formal relations began

!Notes

|- valign="top"

|||February 1962||Both countries established diplomatic relations in February 1962

Canada is accredited to the Republic of the Congo from its embassy in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Republic of the Congo is accredited to Canada from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States.

|- valign="top"

|||22 February 1964||See China-Republic of the Congo relations

On February 22, 1964, China established diplomatic relations with the Republic of Congo.

|- valign="top"

|||22 March 1967||Both countries established diplomatic relations on 22 March 1967

See Finland-Republic of the Congo relations

|- valign="top"

|||16 August 1960||Both countries established diplomatic relations on 16 August 1960

Republic of the Congo has an embassy in Paris.
France has an embassy in Brazzaville and a consulate-general in Pointe-Noire.

|- valign="top"

|||26 August 1967||See Republic of Congo–India relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 26 August 1967.

India maintains an embassy in Brazzaville since 2021.
Republic of the Congo maintains an embassy in New Delhi.

|9 November 1960

|Both countries established diplomatic relations on 9 November 1960 when Ram Yaron was appointed first Israel ambassador at Brazzaville. But Congo severance diplomatic relations with Israel on 31 December 1972. Diplomatic relations were restored between them on 14 July 1991.

|- valign="top"

|||1990||Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1990

Republic of the Congo is accredited to Mexico from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States.

|- valign="top"

|||23 March 1990||Both countries established diplomatic relations on 23 March 1990

Congo has an embassy in Windhoek.
Namibia has an embassy in Brazzaville.

|- valign="top"

|||19 December 1972||Both countries established diplomatic relations on 19 December 1972

See Poland-Republic of the Congo relations

|25 May 1961

|Both countries established diplomatic relations on 25 May 1961 when first Ambassador of Portugal with residence in Brazzaville Mr. Gonçalo Correia Caldeira Coelho presented his credentials, but 17 August 1965 Congo severing diplomatic relations with Portugal. Diplomatic ties re-established on 25 January 1975

|- valign="top"

|||16 March 1964||

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 16 March 1964

The Republic of the Congo has no embassy in Moscow. Russia has an embassy in Brazzaville.

|9 April 1969

|Both countries established diplomatic relations on 9 April 1969 when Ambassador of Senegal to Congo (Brazzaville) (resident in Kinshasa) Mr. Mademba Sy presented his credentials to Head of State Major Marien Ngouabi

|- valign="top"

|||21 August 1961||

The diplomatic relations between the South Korea and the Republic of the Congo were established on 21 August 1961. Bilateral trade in 2011 totalled $52,940,000 exports, and $78,100,000 imports. The Congo was a major oil exporter to Korea.

|22 October 1981

|Both countries established diplomatic relations on 22 October 1981 when Ambassador of Tanzania to Congo Mme. Tato Nuru presented his letters of credentials to President of Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso.

|1968

|The two countries maintain diplomatic relations and Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé visited the Republic of the Congo in November 2023 meeting President Denis Sassou Nguesso.

|- valign="top"

|||9 November 1981||Both countries established diplomatic relations on 9 November 1981

Congo has an embassy in Ankara.
Turkey has an embassy in Brazzaville.
The United Kingdom is not accredited to the Republic of the Congo through an embassy; the UK develops relations through its embassy in Kinshasa, DR Congo.

Both countries share common membership of the Atlantic co-operation pact, the International Criminal Court, and the World Trade Organization. Bilaterally the two countries have an Investment Agreement.

|- valign="top"

|||15 August 1960||Both countries established diplomatic relations on 15 August 1960

See Republic of the Congo-United States relations

Diplomatic relations between the United States and Congo were broken during the most radical Congolese-Marxist period, 1965–77. The U.S. Embassy reopened in 1977 with the restoration of relations, which remained distant until the end of the socialist era. The late 1980s were marked by a progressive warming of Congolese relations with Western countries, including the United States. Congolese President Denis Sassou-Nguesso made a state visit to Washington in 1990, where he was received by President George H. W. Bush.

Republic of the Congo has an embassy in Washington, D.C.

|12 January 1973

|Both countries established diplomatic relations on 12 January 1973 when the first Zambian Ambassador to the Congo People's Republic (resident in Kinshasa), M. Chalikulima, presented his credentials to President Ngouabi