Foreign relations of Guatemala

Guatemala's major diplomatic interests are regional security and increasingly, regional development and economic integration.

Diplomatic relations

List of countries which Guatemala maintains diplomatic relations with:

#	Country	Date[1]
1	United States	4 August 1824[2]
2	Colombia	8 March 1825
3	Chile	15 August 1830
4	France	2 March 1831
5	United Kingdom	12 July 1837
6	Costa Rica	18 August 1839
7	Nicaragua	15 May 1845[3]
8	El Salvador	21 March 1847
9	Honduras	21 March 1847
10	Mexico	6 September 1848
11	Belgium	27 September 1850[4]
12	Netherlands	22 March 1856
13	Peru	20 April 1857
14	Spain	29 May 1863
15	Italy	25 February 1864
16	Denmark	30 April 1880
17	Serbia	1 July 1882
18	Portugal	20 August 1884
19	Ecuador	26 October 1885
—	Venezuela (suspended)	22 June 1891[5]
20	Cuba	30 April 1902
21	Brazil	22 November 1906
22	Switzerland	14 December 1906
23	Uruguay	16 March 1907
24	Paraguay	1 May 1907
25	Argentina	7 October 1918
26	Luxembourg	7 November 1924
27	Czech Republic	27 February 1927[6]
28	Sweden	9 December 1930
29	Poland	20 January 1934
—	Republic of China[a]	22 December 1934
30	Panama	25 January 1935
31	Japan	20 February 1935
—	Holy See	11 March 1936
32	Norway	28 April 1939
33	Russia	19 April 1945
34	Bolivia	5 September 1945[7]
35	Israel	15 May 1948
36	Haiti	1948
37	Dominican Republic	31 August 1954
38	Austria	9 September 1955[8]
39	Thailand	7 March 1957
40	Turkey	16 September 1958[9]
—	Sovereign Military Order of Malta	23 June 1959
41	Germany	9 October 1959[10]
42	Canada	16 September 1961
43	South Korea	24 October 1962
44	Grenada	16 July 1966
45	Greece	20 July 1966
46	Finland	18 August 1967
47	Egypt	7 September 1970
48	Morocco	15 March 1971
49	India	16 May 1972
50	Philippines	21 June 1972
51	Australia	7 January 1974
52	Iraq	2 February 1978
53	Suriname	9 May 1979
54	Bangladesh	7 October 1983
55	Algeria	31 January 1990
56	Jordan	31 January 1990
57	Lebanon	31 January 1990
58	Hungary	11 October 1990
59	Romania	7 December 1990
60	Belize	11 September 1991
61	Jamaica	11 December 1991
62	Barbados	27 January 1992
63	Antigua and Barbuda	3 February 1992[11]
64	Bahamas	30 March 1992
65	Saint Lucia	1 April 1992
66	Indonesia	29 April 1992
67	Guyana	1 May 1992
68	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	14 May 1992
69	Singapore	1 December 1992
70	United Arab Emirates	15 December 1992
71	Cyprus	17 December 1992
72	Croatia	22 December 1992
73	Saint Kitts and Nevis	1992
75	Vietnam	7 January 1993
76	Ukraine	12 January 1993
77	Seychelles	13 January 1993
78	Latvia	14 January 1993
79	Iran	25 January 1993
80	Malaysia	27 January 1993
81	Maldives	27 January 1993
82	Albania	29 January 1993
83	Estonia	3 February 1993
84	Kyrgyzstan	10 February 1993
85	Guinea	12 February 1993
86	Namibia	19 February 1993
87	Belarus	11 March 1993
88	Moldova	6 April 1993
89	Cameroon	14 April 1993
90	Slovakia	15 April 1993
91	Federated States of Micronesia	13 May 1993
92	Iceland	5 August 1993
93	Oman	13 October 1993
94	Slovenia	25 November 1993
95	Lithuania	14 December 1993
96	Bulgaria	14 January 1994
97	Trinidad and Tobago	25 May 1994
98	Ghana	26 September 1994
99	Azerbaijan	1 November 1994
100	South Africa	12 January 1995
101	Benin	14 November 1995
102	Andorra	27 November 1995
103	Malta	11 December 1995
104	Kuwait	12 December 1995
105	Cambodia	26 February 1996
106	Turkmenistan	22 August 1996
107	Mozambique	4 February 1997
108	Armenia	29 June 1998
109	New Zealand	27 October 1998[12]
110	North Macedonia	16 November 2001
111	Nigeria	December 2001
112	San Marino	14 February 2002
113	Brunei	30 June 2004
114	Ireland	2004
115	Mongolia	3 July 2006
116	Mali	7 July 2006
117	Burkina Faso	21 July 2006
118	Cape Verde	25 July 2006
119	Nepal	8 August 2006
120	Tajikistan	20 August 2006
121	Gambia	5 September 2006
122	Mauritius	7 September 2006
123	Montenegro	27 September 2006
124	Nauru	6 December 2006
125	Equatorial Guinea	8 December 2006
126	Uzbekistan	9 February 2007
127	Qatar	27 February 2007
128	Zimbabwe	2 March 2007
129	Tunisia	19 March 2007
130	Botswana	7 May 2007
131	Bahrain	21 May 2007
132	Libya	5 September 2007
133	Samoa	20 September 2007
134	North Korea	26 September 2007
135	Monaco	2 November 2007
136	Niger	13 November 2007
137	Laos	20 February 2008
138	Kenya	25 September 2008
139	Bosnia and Herzegovina	9 January 2009
140	Dominica	12 August 2009
141	Georgia	27 April 2010
142	Solomon Islands	8 March 2011
143	Tuvalu	20 May 2011
144	Kazakhstan	2 September 2011
145	Pakistan	14 October 2011
146	Ethiopia	20 June 2012
147	Sri Lanka	26 February 2013
148	Zambia	19 March 2013
149	Fiji	13 September 2013
150	Ivory Coast	13 March 2014
151	Senegal	29 September 2015
152	Liechtenstein	22 December 2015
153	Saudi Arabia	21 April 2017
154	Marshall Islands	20 July 2017
155	Djibouti	28 February 2018
156	Gabon	31 December 2022
157	Palau	19 January 2023
158	Timor-Leste	3 April 2023
159	Angola	22 September 2023
160	Togo	22 September 2023
161	Rwanda	24 September 2024
162	Kiribati	4 October 2024
163	Vanuatu	4 October 2024

Bilateral relations

Country	Formal Relations Began	Notes
Azerbaijan	1 November 1994[13]	Azerbaijan is accredited to Guatemala through its embassy in Mexico City, Mexico.[13][14] Guatemala is accredited to Azerbaijan through its consulate in Istanbul, Turkey.[13][15]
Australia		There are four Australia–Guatemala bilateral treaties. Guatemala has an embassy in Canberra, Australia.[16] The Australian embassy in Mexico has consular responsibility for Guatemala.[17] Trade between the two countries is A$32 Million.[18]
Belize	11 September 1993	See Belize-Guatemala relations Guatemala has a longstanding claim to a large portion of Belize. The territorial dispute caused problems with the United Kingdom and later with Belize following its 1981 independence from the UK. In December 1989, Guatemala sponsored Belize for permanent observer status in the Organization of American States (OAS). In September 1991 Guatemala recognized Belize's independence and established diplomatic ties, while acknowledging that the boundaries remained in dispute. In anticipation of an effort to bring the border dispute to an end in early 1996, the Guatemalan Congress ratified two long-pending international agreements governing frontier issues and maritime rights. In early 2000 the Guatemalan Foreign Ministry proposed a border settlement that would transfer more than half of Belize's territory to Guatemala. Following a spate of border incidents, both sides agreed during talks under OAS auspices in November 2000 to confidence-building measures to reduce tensions. They followed that with an agreement on opening substantive discussions on the dispute. Both Guatemala and Belize are participating in the confidence-building measures, including the Guatemala-Belize Language Exchange Project. In September 2010, the Guatemalan Congress overwhelmingly gave its approval for a referendum to be held; giving the people of Guatemala a say in whether or not that country's claim to Belize should be taken to the International Court of Justice. Under the special agreement (compromise) signed in December 2008 by Belize and Guatemala it was agreed that if the people of both nations approved, by way of a simultaneous referendum on the same day, that the dispute would proceed to the ICJ. The outcome of any ruling handed down by the ICJ will be final and binding, regardless of in whose favor the ruling is handed down.
Canada	16 September 1961	Canada has an embassy in Guatemala City.[19] Guatemala has an embassy in Ottawa and a consulate-general in Montreal.[20]
Chile	8 August 1840	Chile has an embassy in Guatemala City. Guatemala has an embassy in Santiago de Chile.
Republic of China (Taiwan)	15 June 1933	As of March 2023, Guatemala is one of 13 nations who recognize the legitimacy of the Republic of China (ROC) on Taiwan under the One China policy.[21] The ROC has an embassy in Guatemala City. Guatemala has an embassy in Taipei.
Colombia	8 March 1825	See Colombia–Guatemala relations Colombia has an embassy in Guatemala City. Guatemala has an embassy in Bogotá.
Costa Rica	18 August 1839	Costa Rica has an embassy in Guatemala City. Guatemala has an embassy in San José.
Cuba	30 April 1902	See Cuba–Guatemala relations Cuba has an embassy in Guatemala City Guatemala has an embassy in Havana
El Salvador	21 March 1821	See El Salvador–Guatemala relations El Salvador has an embassy in Guatemala City.[22] Guatemala has an embassy in San Salvador.[23]
Germany	1959	See Germany–Guatemala relations Germany has an embassy in Guatemala City Guatemala has an embassy in Berlin
Haiti	1948	Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1948. [24] See Haiti–Guatemala relations Haiti has a diplomatic consulate in Guatemala City. [25][26] Guatemala has a diplomatic consulate in Port-au-Prince. [27][28]
Honduras	1821	See Guatemala–Honduras relations Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1821. Guatemala has an embassy in Tegucigalpa and a consulate in San Pedro Sula.[29] Honduras has an embassy in Guatemala.
India	16 May 1972	See Guatemala–India relations India maintains an embassy in Guatemala City.[30] Guatemala has an embassy in New Delhi.
Indonesia	29 April 1992	Indonesia is accredited to Guatemala from its embassy in Mexico City, Mexico. Guatemala has an embassy in Jakarta.[31]
Israel	15 May 1948	See Guatemala–Israel relations Dinner hosted by Israeli Ambassador to Guatemala Joshua Shai, in honor of President of Guatemala Enrique Peralta Azurdia, at his residence in Guatemala, 1964. Israel maintains an embassy in Guatemala City.[32] Guatemala has an embassy in Jerusalem. In May 2018, Guatemala was the second country after the United States to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.[33] The first COVID vaccines to arrive in Guatemala were received from donations sent by Israel.[34]
Mexico	6 September 1838	See Guatemala–Mexico relations; Guatemalan immigration to Mexico Diplomatic relations between Mexico and Guatemala began in 1838 after the dissolution of the Federal Republic of Central America. Mexico has an embassy in Guatemala City and a consulate in Quetzaltenango and Tecún Umán.[35] Guatemala has an embassy in Mexico City and consulates-general in Cancún, Mérida, Monterrey, Oaxaca City, San Luis Potosí, Tapachula, Tenosique, Tijuana, Tuxtla Gutiérrez and Veracruz City; consulates in Acayucan, Ciudad Hidalgo, Comitán and consular office in Arriaga.[36] Both countries are members of the Organization of American States, Organization of Ibero-American States, and the Rio Group.
Morocco	15 March 1971	Guatemala has an embassy in Rabat. Morocco has an embassy in Guatemala City.
Nicaragua	15 May 1845	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 15 May 1845. Guatemala has an embassy in Managua. Nicaragua closed its embassy in Guatemala City in 2024.
Panama	25 January 1935	Guatemala has an embassy in Panama City. Panama has an embassy in Guatemala City.
Paraguay	1 May 1907	Guatemala is accredited to Paraguay from its embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Paraguay is accredited to Guatemala from its embassy in Mexico City, Mexico.
Philippines	21 June 1972	Guatemala is accredited to Philippines from its embassy in Tokyo, Japan. Philippines is accredited to Guatemala through its embassy in Mexico City, Mexico.
Russia	19 April 1945	See Guatemala–Russia relations Guatemala has an embassy in Moscow. Russia has an embassy in Guatemala City.[37]
South Korea	24 October 1962[38]	Guatemala has an embassy in Seoul, South Korea.[citation needed] South Korea has an embassy in Guatemala City.[39]
Spain	29 May 1863	See Guatemala–Spain relations Guatemala has an embassy in Madrid.[40] Spain has an embassy in Guatemala City.[41]
Thailand	3 March 1957	Guatemala has an embassy in Bangkok.[42] Thailand is accredited to Guatemala through its embassy in Mexico City, Mexico.
Turkey	18 July 1874	See Guatemala–Turkey relations Guatemala has an embassy in Ankara and an honorary consulate in Istanbul.[43] Turkey has an embassy in Guatemala City.[43] Trade volume between the two countries was US$63.5 million in 2019 (Guatemalan exports/imports: 10/53.5 million USD).[43]
United Kingdom	12 July 1837	See Guatemala–United Kingdom relations Guatemala established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 12 July 1837. Guatemala maintains an embassy in London.[44] United Kingdom is accredited to Guatemala from its embassy in Guatemala City.[45] Both countries share common membership of the Atlantic Co-operation Pact,[46] the International Criminal Court, and the World Trade Organization, as well as the Central America–UK Association Agreement.[47]
United States	4 August 1824	See Guatemala–United States relations Relations between the United States and Guatemala traditionally have been close, although at times strained by human rights and civil-military issues. U.S. policy objectives in Guatemala include: Supporting the institutionalization of democracy and implementation of the Peace Accords Encouraging respect for human rights and the rule of law, and implementation of the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) Supporting broad-based economic growth and sustainable development and maintaining mutually beneficial trade and commercial relations, including ensuring that benefits of Dominican Republic–Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) reach all sectors of the Guatemalan populace Cooperating to combat money laundering, corruption, narcotics trafficking, alien-smuggling, and other transnational crime Supporting Central American integration through support for resolution of border/territorial disputes The United States, as a member of "the Friends of Guatemala", along with Colombia, Mexico, Spain, Norway, and Venezuela, played an important role in the UN-moderated peace accords. The United States strongly supported the six substantive and three procedural accords, which, along with the signing of the December 29, 1996 final accord, form the blueprint for profound political, economic, and social change. To that end, the U.S. government committed over $500 million to support peace implementation since 1997. In recent years the number of violent crimes reported by U.S. citizens has steadily increased, though the number of Americans traveling to Guatemala has increased. Most U.S. assistance to Guatemala is provided through the U.S. Agency for International Development's (USAID) offices for Guatemala. USAID/Guatemala's current program builds on the gains of the peace process that followed the signing of the peace accords in December 1996, as well as on the achievements of its 1997–2004 peace program. The current program works to advance U.S. foreign policy objectives by focusing on Guatemala's potential as Central America's largest economy and trading partner of the United States, but also recognizes the country's lagging social indicators and widespread poverty. The three areas of focus for USAID/Guatemala's program are modeled after the Millennium Challenge Account areas—ruling justly, economic freedom, and investing in people.
Uruguay	16 March 1907	See Guatemala–Uruguay relations Guatemala has an embassy in Montevideo. Uruguay has an embassy in Guatemala City.
Venezuela	31 October 1890	Main article: Guatemala–Venezuela relations Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei announced it would sever ties with Venezuela, prompting to close its embassy both in Caracas and Guatemala City, following the ongoing presidential crisis.[48]

Multilateral relations

The Central American Ministers of Trade meet on a regular basis to work on regional approaches to trade issues. In March 1998, Guatemala joined its Central American neighbors in signing a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA). In 2000 it joined Honduras and El Salvador in signing a free trade agreement with Mexico, which went into effect in 2001. Guatemala also originated the idea for, and is the seat of, the Central American Parliament (PARLACEN).

Guatemala participates in several regional groups, particularly those related to the environment and trade. For example, US President Clinton and the Central American presidents signed the CONCAUSA (Conjunto Centroamerica-USA) agreement at the Summit of the Americas in December 1994. CONCAUSA is a cooperative plan of action to promote clean, efficient energy use; conserve the region's biodiversity; strengthen legal and institutional frameworks and compliance mechanisms; and improve and harmonize environmental protection standards.

Illicit drugs: Guatemala is a transit country for cocaine shipments; minor producer of illicit opium poppy and cannabis for the international drug trade; active eradication program in 1996 effectively eliminated the cannabis crop; proximity to Mexico makes Guatemala a major staging area for drugs (cocaine shipments).

See also

• Belizean–Guatemalan territorial dispute
• List of ambassadors of Guatemala
• List of diplomatic missions in Guatemala
• List of diplomatic missions of Guatemala
• Visa requirements for Guatemalan citizens

Notes

1. Diplomatic relations established as the Nationalist government on Mainland China. Relations continued on Taiwan, which the ROC took control of from Japan in 1945, after its retreat in 1949. See also One China and Political status of Taiwan.