Foreign relations of Dominica


Like its Eastern Caribbean neighbours, the main priority of Dominica's foreign relations is economic development. The country maintains missions in Washington, New York, London, and Brussels and is represented jointly with other Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States members in Canada. Dominica is also a member of the Caribbean Development Bank, and the Commonwealth of Nations. It became a member of the United Nations and the International Monetary Fund in 1978 and of the World Bank and Organization of American States in 1979.
As a member of CARICOM, in July 1994 Dominica strongly backed efforts by the United States to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 940, designed to facilitate the departure of Haiti's de facto authorities from power. The country agreed to contribute personnel to the multinational force, which restored the democratically elected government of Haiti in October 1994.
In May 1997, Prime Minister James joined 14 other Caribbean leaders, and President Clinton, during the first-ever U.S.-regional summit in Bridgetown, Barbados. The summit strengthened the basis for regional cooperation on justice and counternarcotics issues, finance and development, and trade. Dominica previously maintained official relations with the Republic of China instead of the People's Republic of China, but on 23 March 2004, a joint communique was signed in Beijing, paving the way for diplomatic recognition of the People's Republic. Beijing responded to Dominica's severing relations with the Republic of China by giving them a $12 million aid package, which includes $6 million in budget support for the year 2004 and $1 million annually for six years.
In June 2020, Dominica was one of 53 countries backed the Hong Kong national security law at the United Nations.
Dominica is also a member of the International Criminal Court with a Bilateral Immunity Agreement of protection for the US-military.

International disputes

Dominica claims Venezuelan controlled Isla Aves located roughly 90 km. west of Dominica.

Bilateral relations

CountryFormal relations beganNotes

Both countries established diplomatic relations in June 2006.

No diplomatic relations have yet been established with Andorra.

Argentina and Dominica established diplomatic relation on 13 June 1985.
2019
Armenia and Dominica established diplomatic relations on 8 April 2019.
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Australia is represented in Dominica through its High Commission in Trinidad and Tobago.

  • Since 2016, Austria is represented in Dominica by its embassy in Havana, Cuba.
  • Dominica idoes not have any representation in Austria.
Azerbaijan and Dominica have established diplomatic relations in 2011. Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit made an official visit to Azerbaijan later this year.

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 3 November 1978.

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 9 July 2004.

Belgium and Dominica established diplomatic relations since 1980.

  • Both countries have established diplomatic relations on 21 September 1981.
  • Both countries are full members of both Commonwealth of Nations and Association of Caribbean States.
Bosnia and Herzegovina and Dominica established diplomatic relation on 6 March 2014.

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 23 July 2007.

Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1986.

Bulgaria is represented in Dominica through its embassy in Cuba.

  • Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1978.
  • Bilateral relations are described as "close and friendly."
  • Canada is represented in Dominica, through its High Commission in Barbados.
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 9 December 1980. Colombia is represented in Dominica through its embassy in Kingston, Jamaica.

Both countries have diplomatic relations. Both countries waived visa for diplomatic passports holders.

Costa Rica and Dominica have established diplomatic relations in 2001.

Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Republic of Croatia and the Commonwealth of Dominica was signed on 30 July 2013.

Diplomatic relations were established on 31 March 2004, when Dominica suspended ties with the Republic of China.

In December 2005, during the second CARICOM/CUBA summit held in Barbados, heads of CARICOM and Cuba agreed to deepen their ties in the areas of socio-economic and political cooperation in addition to medical care assistance. Since the meeting, Cuba has opened four additional embassies in the Caribbean Community including Dominica.

Both countries are members of the Commonwealth of Nations. A Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Republic of Cyprus and the Commonwealth of Dominica was signed on 13 June 2001 in New York

The Czech Republic and Dominica have formalized diplomatic relations since 1996.

Denmark is represented in Dominica, through its embassy in Mexico.

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 9 January 2018.

Dominica and Ecuador established diplomatic relation on 24 June 2009.

Dominica and Fiji established diplomatic relations in 2014.

Finland recognised Dominica on 23 February 1979. Diplomatic relations were established on 19 August 2009.

France is represented in Dominica, through its embassy in Saint Lucia. Dominica and France have signed many bilateral agreements.

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 26 July 2012.

Both countries have diplomatic relations since 1980. Political and economic relations are friendly but fairly low-key.

Dominica and Georgia established diplomatic relation on 15 December 2010.

Diplomatic relations were established on 15 November 2005. Greece is represented in Dominica via parallel accreditation of its embassy in Caracas. Dominica has appointed an ambassador accredited to Greece, based in Roseau, Dominica.

Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations, of the Organization of American States and of the Caribbean Community.

Dominica and Guyana have established diplomatic relations on 3 November 1978. Guyana has a High Commission in Roseau.

Dominica and the Holy See have had diplomatic relations since 1982.

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 4 June 2014 during the General Assembly of the Organization of American States in Asunción.

Hungary is represented in Dominica by its embassy in Havana, Cuba.

  • Both countries established diplomatic relations in 2004.
  • Iceland is represented in Dominica through its embassy in New York, United States. Both countries have an agreement on cooperation on geothermal energy.
Ireland is represented in Dominica through its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States.
See Dominica–India relations
Dominica and India established diplomatic relation in 1981. Both countries are members of the Commonwealth of Nations.

Indonesia is represented in Dominica through its embassy in Caracas, Venezuela

  • Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1979.
  • Israel is represented in Dominica through its embassy in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
  • Both countries have an agreement on visa abolition.
Italy is represented in Dominica by its embassy in Caracas, Venezuela.

Diplomatic relations were established in December 1978. Japan is represented in Dominica through its embassy in Trinidad and Tobago
.

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 15 May 2016.

Since November 1978, the bilateral relations have been cordial and fruitful.

Dominica and Kosovo established diplomatic relation on 11 December 2012.

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 18 October 2016.

Diplomatic relations were established on 27 September 2007 in New York.

Dominica and Libya maintain diplomatic relations.

Diplomatic relations were established on 7 October 2013.

  • Malaysia is represented in Dominica by its embassy in Caracas, Venezuela.
  • Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations.
Both countries are members of the Commonwealth of Nations. Diplomatic relations were established on 11 February 2005 in New York.

  • Both countries established diplomatic relations on 21 July 2004.
  • Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations.
3 April 1979See Dominica–Mexico relations
  • Dominica is accredited to Mexico from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States.
  • Mexico is accredited to Dominica from its embassy in Castries, Saint Lucia and maintains an honorary consulate in Roseau.
    • Dominica is represented in Monaco through it embassy in Paris, France.

    Diplomatic relations were established on 18 November 2011.

    Both countries established diplomatic relations on 25 February 2011.

    Dominica and Morocco established diplomatic relations since 2010.

  • New Zealand is represented in Dominica by its High Commission in Bridgetown, Barbados.
  • Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations.
    • Dominica and Norway established diplomatic relation on 26 March 2001. Both countries have signed an Agreement concerning the exchange of information relating to tax matters which came into force on 1 January 2012

    Dominica recognised the State of Palestine and established diplomatic relations on 14 September 2011.

    Dominica and Panama established diplomatic relations on 15 March 2012.

    Dominica and Paraguay established diplomatic relation on 6 March 2015.

    Dominica and Philippines established diplomatic relations in 2011.

    Dominica and Poland have established diplomatic relations.

    Dominica and Qatar established diplomatic relation in 2004.

    Diplomatic relations were established on 30 January 2009.

    Dominica and Russia have established diplomatic relations on 19 May 1995. In April 2018, Dominica has appointed a resident ambassador to the Russia.

    Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations, of the Organization of American States and of the Caribbean Community.

    Dominica and Serbia established diplomatic relation on 22 April 2010.

    Both countries established diplomatic relations on 6 June 2012.

    Slovakia is represented in Dominica through its embassy in Havana.

    Both countries established diplomatic relations on 17 April 2018.

    Dominica is represented in Slovenia through its embassy in London.

    Both countries are members of the Commonwealth of Nations. Diplomatic relations were established on 29 April 1998.

    Since November 1978, the bilateral relations have been cordial and fruitful.
    See Dominica–Spain relations
    Dominica and Spain established diplomatic relations in 1986.

    Both countries are full members of the Organization of American States and of the Caribbean Community.

    Sweden has an honorary consulate in Roseau.

    Diplomatic and economic relations between Switzerland and Dominica are of minor importance.

    Both countries established diplomatic relations on 14 April 2011.

    • Trinidad and Tobago had an embassy in Roseau
    Diplomatic relations were established on April 2006 in New York.

    Both countries established diplomatic relations on 13 October 2016.

    • Both countries established diplomatic relations on April 25, 2019.
    • They also signed a visa waver agreement.
    Diplomatic relations between Dominica and the UAE were established on 21 December 2014.

    On 3 November 1978, Dominica received independence from the United Kingdom as a Commonwealth republic.
    See Dominica–United States relations
    The United States and Dominica have friendly relations. United States supports the Dominican government's efforts to expand its economic base and to provide a higher standard of living for its citizens. U.S. assistance is primarily channeled through multilateral agencies such as the World Bank and the Caribbean Development Bank, as well as through the U.S. Agency for International Development office in Bridgetown, Barbados.

    Dominica and Uruguay established diplomatic relation on 1 March 2011.

    President of Venezuela Hugo Chávez visited Dominica in 2007.
    Dominica has once claimed the Venezuelan island Isla Aves, but the claim was stopped as Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has declared that Isla Aves belongs to Venezuela.

    Dominica and Vietnam established diplomatic relation on 1 November 2013.

    Dominica and the Commonwealth of Nations

    The Commonwealth of Dominica has been a member of the Commonwealth of Nations since 1978, when it became an independent Commonwealth republic from the United Kingdom.
    Dominica's highest court of appeal is the Caribbean Court of Justice, in effect from 6 March 2015. Previously, the nation's ultimate court of appeal was the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London.

    Dominica and La Francophonie

    The Commonwealth of Dominica has been a member of Organisation internationale de la Francophonie since 1979.
    As a French and then British colony; Antillean Creole, a French-based creole language, is spoken by 90% of the population. The Commonwealth of Dominica is nestled between two insular overseas outer regions of France, Guadeloupe, and Martinique. A number of links exist between Dominica and its French neighbours to north and south.