Foreign relations of Togo

Although Togo's foreign policy is nonaligned, it has strong historical and cultural ties with western Europe, especially France and Germany. Togo recognizes the People's Republic of China, North Korea, and Cuba. It re-established relations with Israel in 1987.

Togo pursues an active foreign policy and participates in many international organizations. It is particularly active in West African regional affairs and in the African Union. Relations between Togo and neighboring states are generally good.

Bilateral relations

China

Main article: China–Togo relations

Togo and China established diplomatic relations on September 19 1972.

France

Togo gained its independence from France in 1960.

Ghana

Main article: Ghana–Togo relations

After 1918, following the defeat of Germany, the League of Nations divided the German colony of Togoland from north to south, a decision that divided the Ewe people among the Gold Coast, British Togoland, and French Togoland. After 1945, the United Nations (UN) took over the Togoland mandates. During the 1950s, when the independence of Ghana was in sight, demands grew for a separate Ewe state, an idea that Kwame Nkrumah, leader of the Gold Coast independence movement, opposed. Following a UN plebiscite in May 1956, in which a majority of the Ewe voted for union with Ghana, British Togoland became part of the Gold Coast. After Togolese independence in 1960, relations between Togo and Ghana deteriorated, aggravated by political differences and incidents such as smuggling across their common border. At times, relations have verged on open aggression.

The result of the transfer of Togoland to Ghana has meant that many Togolese keep one foot on either side of the border, living in Ghana by night and working in the markets of the capital, Lomé, by day.

Kosovo

Togo recognized the Republic of Kosovo on July 2, 2014. Togolese foreign minister Robert Dussey visited Pristina on July 21, 2014, and signed three agreements with his Kosovar counterpart, Enver Hoxhaj, which established diplomatic relations and initiated economic, trade, and educational cooperation.

Palestine

Togo recognized the State of Palestine on November 29, 1988. During the votes to admit Palestine to UNESCO as a member state in October 2011 and as Non-Member Observer State, in November 2012 Togo abstained from the voting.

South Korea

Main article: Foreign relations of the Republic of Korea

Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Republic of Korea (South Korea) and the Republic of Togo is July 26, 1963.

United States

Main article: Togo – United States relations

The United States and Togo have had generally good relations since its independence, although the United States has never been one of Togo's major trading partners. The largest share of U.S. exports to Togo generally has been used clothing and scrap textiles. Other important U.S. exports include rice, wheat, shoes, and tobacco products, and U.S. personal computers and other office electronics are becoming more widely used.

The U.S. maintains an embassy in Lomé.

See also

• List of diplomatic missions in Togo
• List of diplomatic missions of Togo