Foreign relations of the United Kingdom


The diplomatic foreign relations of the United Kingdom are conducted by the Commonwealth and Development Office">Commonwealth of Nations">Commonwealth and Development Office, headed by the foreign secretary. The prime minister and numerous other agencies play a role in setting policy, and many institutions and businesses have a voice and a role.
The United Kingdom was the world's foremost power during the 19th and early 20th centuries, most notably during the so-called "Pax Britannica"a period of unrivaled supremacy and unprecedented international peace during the mid-to-late 1800s. The country continued to be widely considered a superpower until the Suez crisis of 1956 and the dismantling of the British Empire left the UK's dominant role in global affairs to be gradually diminished. Nevertheless, the United Kingdom remains a great power and a Permanent members of the [United Nations Security Council|permanent member] of the United Nations Security Council. The UK is a founding member of AUKUS, the Commonwealth, the Council of Europe, the European Court of Human Rights, the G7, the G20, the International Criminal Court, NATO, the OECD, the OSCE, the World Health Organization, and the World Trade Organization, additionally the UK is a member of CPTPP. The UK was also a founding member state of the European Union, however due to the outcome of a 2016 2016 United Kingdom [European Union membership referendum|membership referendum], proceedings to withdraw from the EU began in 2017 and concluded when the UK formally left the EU on 31 January 2020, and the transition period on 31 December 2020 with an EU trade agreement. Since the vote and the conclusion of trade talks with the EU, policymakers have begun pursuing new trade agreements with other global partners.

History

Following the formation of the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707, British foreign relations largely continued those of the Kingdom of England. British foreign policy initially focused on achieving a balance of power within Europe, with no one country achieving dominance over the affairs of the continent. This policy remained a major justification for Britain's wars against Napoleon, and for British involvement in the First and Second World Wars. Secondly Britain continued the expansion of its colonial "First British Empire" by migration and investment.
France was the chief enemy until the defeat of Napoleon in 1815. It had a much larger population and a more powerful army, but a weaker navy. The British were generally successful in their many wars. The notable exception, the American War of Independence, saw Britain, without any major allies, defeated by the American colonials who had the support of France, the Netherlands and Spain. A favoured British diplomatic strategy involved subsidising the armies of continental allies, thereby turning London's enormous financial power to military advantage. Britain relied heavily on its Royal Navy for security, seeking to keep it the most powerful fleet afloat, eventually with a full complement of bases across the globe. British dominance of the seas was vital to the formation and maintaining of the British Empire, which was achieved through the support of a navy larger than the next two largest navies combined, prior to 1920. The British generally stood alone until the early 20th century, when it became friendly with the US and made alliances with Japan, France and Russia and Germany former antagonist now ally.

1814–1914

The 100 years were generally peaceful—a sort of Pax Britannica enforced by the Royal Navy. There were two important wars, both limited in scope. The Crimean War saw the defeat of Russia and its threat to the Ottoman Empire. The Second Boer War saw the defeat of the two Boer republics in South Africa and Boxer Rebellion happen the same year. London became the world's financial centre, and commercial enterprise expanded across the globe. The "Second British Empire" was built with a base in Asia and Africa.

First World War

1920s

After 1918 Britain was a "troubled giant" that was less of a dominant diplomatic force in the 1920s than before. It often had to give way to the United States, which frequently exercised its financial superiority. The main themes of British foreign policy included a leading role at the Paris Peace Conference of 1919–1920, where Lloyd George worked hard to moderate French demands for revenge on Germany. He was partly successful, but Britain soon had to moderate French policy toward Germany further, as in the Locarno Treaties of 1925. Furthermore, Britain obtained "mandates" that allowed it and its dominions to govern most of the former German and Ottoman colonies.
Britain became an active member of the new League of Nations, but its list of major achievements was slight.
Disarmament was high on the agenda, and Britain played a major role following the United States in the Washington Naval Conference of 1921 in working toward naval disarmament of the major powers. By 1933 disarmament agreements had collapsed and the issue became rearming for a war against Germany.
Britain was partially successful in negotiating better terms with United States regarding the large war loans which Britain was obliged to repay. Britain supported the international solution to German reparations through the Dawes Plan and the Young Plan. After the Dawes Plan had helped stabilize Germany's currency and lowered its annual payments, Germany was able to pay its annual reparations using money borrowed from New York banks, and Britain used the money received to pay Washington. The Great Depression starting in 1929 put enormous pressure on the British economy. Britain revived Imperial Preference, which meant low tariffs within the British Empire and higher barriers to trade with outside countries. The flow of money from New York dried up, and the system of reparations and payment of debt died in 1931.
In domestic British politics, the emerging Labour Party had a distinctive and suspicious foreign policy based on pacifism. Its leaders believed that peace was impossible because of capitalism, secret diplomacy, and the trade in armaments. Labour stressed material factors that ignored the psychological memories of the Great War and the highly emotional tensions regarding nationalism and the boundaries of countries. Nevertheless, Labour Party |party leader] Ramsay MacDonald devoted much of his attention to European policies.

1930s

Vivid memories of the horrors and deaths of the First World War inclined many Britons—and their leaders in all parties—to pacifism in the interwar era. This led directly to the appeasement of dictators in order to avoid their threats of war.
The challenge came from those dictators, first from Benito Mussolini, Duce of Italy |Italy], then from Adolf Hitler, Führer of a much more powerful Nazi Germany. The League of Nations proved disappointing to its supporters; it failed to resolve any of the threats posed by the dictators. British policy involved "appeasing" them in the hopes they would be satiated. By 1938 it was clear that war was looming, and that Germany had the world's most powerful military. The final act of appeasement came when Britain and France sacrificed Czechoslovakia to Hitler's demands at the Munich Agreement of September 1938. Instead of satiation, Hitler menaced Poland, and at last Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain dropped appeasement and stood firm in promising to defend Poland. Hitler however cut a deal with Joseph Stalin to divide Eastern Europe ; when Germany did invade Poland in September 1939, Britain and France declared war, and the British Commonwealth followed London's lead.

Second World War

Having signed the Anglo-Polish military alliance in August 1939, Britain and France declared war against Germany in September 1939 in response to Germany's invasion of Poland. This declaration included the Crown colonies and India, which Britain directly controlled. The dominions were independent in foreign policy, though all quickly entered the war against Germany. After the French defeat in June 1940, Britain and its empire stood alone in combat against Germany, until June 1941. The United States gave diplomatic, financial and material support, starting in 1940, especially through Lend Lease, which began in 1941 and attain full strength during 1943. In August 1941, Churchill and Roosevelt met and agreed on the Atlantic Charter, which proclaimed "the rights of all peoples to choose the form of government under which they live" should be respected. This wording was ambiguous and would be interpreted differently by the British, Americans, and nationalist movements.
Starting in December 1941, Japan overran British possessions in Asia, including Hong Kong, Malaya, and especially the key base at Singapore. Japan then marched into Burma, headed toward India. Churchill's reaction to the entry of the United States into the war was that Britain was now assured of victory and the future of the empire was safe, but the rapid defeats irreversibly harmed Britain's standing and prestige as an imperial power. The realisation that Britain could not defend them pushed Australia and New Zealand into permanent close ties with the United States.

Postwar

Economically in dire straits in 1945, Britain systematically reduced its overseas commitments. It pursued an alternate role as an active participant in the Cold War against communism, especially as a founding member of NATO in 1949.
The British had built up a very large worldwide Empire, which peaked in size in 1922, after more than half a century of unchallenged global supremacy. The cumulative costs of fighting two world wars, however, placed a heavy burden upon the home economy, and after 1945 the British Empire rapidly began to disintegrate, with all the major colonies gaining independence. By the mid-to-late 1950s, the UK's status as a superpower was gone in the face of the United States and the Soviet Union. Most former colonies joined the "Commonwealth of Nations", an organisation of fully independent nations now with equal status to the UK. However it attempted no major collective policies. The last major colony, Hong Kong, was handed over to China in 1997. Fourteen British Overseas Territories maintain a constitutional link to the UK, but are not part of the country per se.
Britain slashed its involvements in the Middle East after the humiliating Suez Crisis of 1956. However Britain did forge close military ties with the United States, France, and Germany, through the NATO military alliance. After years of debate, Britain joined the Common Market in 1973; which became the European Union in 1993. However it did not merge financially, and kept the pound separate from the Euro, which partly isolated it from the Euro area crisis. In June 2016, the UK voted to leave the EU.

21st century

Foreign policy initiatives of UK governments since the 1990s have included military intervention in conflicts and for peacekeeping, humanitarian assistance programmes and increased aid spending, support for establishment of the International Criminal Court, debt relief for developing countries, prioritisation of initiatives to address climate change, and promotion of free trade. The British approach has been described as "spread the right norms and sustain NATO".
Lunn et al. argue:
The GREAT campaign of 2012 was one of the most ambitious national promotion efforts ever undertaken by any major nation. It was scheduled take maximum advantage of the worldwide attention to the Summer Olympics in London. The goals were to make British more culture visible in order to stimulate trade, investment and tourism. The government partnered with key leaders in culture, business, diplomacy and education. The campaign unified many themes and targets, including business meetings; scholarly conventions; recreational vehicle dealers; parks and campgrounds; convention and visitors bureaus; hotels; bed and breakfast inns; casinos; and hotels.
In 2013, the government of David Cameron described its approach to foreign policy by saying:
The UK began establishing air and naval facilities in the Persian Gulf, located in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Oman in 2014–15. The Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015 highlighted a range of foreign policy initiatives of the UK government. Edward Longinotti notes how current British defence policy is grappling with how to accommodate two major commitments, to Europe and to an ‘east of Suez’ global military strategy, within a modest defence budget that can only fund one. He points out that Britain's December 2014 agreement to open a permanent naval base in Bahrain underlines its gradual re-commitment east of Suez. By some measures, Britain remains the second most powerful country in the world by virtue of its soft power and "logistical capability to deploy, support and sustain forces overseas in large numbers." Although commentators have questioned the need for global power projection, the concept of “Global Britain” put forward by the Conservative government in 2019 signalled more military activity in the Middle East and Pacific, outside of NATO's traditional sphere of influence.
At the end of January 2020, the United Kingdom left the European Union, with a subsequent trade agreement with the EU in effect from 1 January 2021, setting out the terms of the UK-EU economic relationship and what abilities the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office can use in foreign relations related to trade.

Diplomatic relations

British diplomatic relations date back to the 13th century. The United Kingdom has established diplomatic relations with all United Nations members, aside from Bhutan, in addition to three Non-UN member states: Holy See, Kosovo and Palestine. Moreover, the UK established official relations with the Sovereign Military Order of Malta on 9 October 2024. The following table lists the date from which diplomatic relations were established with other countries:
CountryDatesource
Flag of the Syrian revolution.svg#invoke:dts|main|9 February 1942failed verification|reason=The source does not state when Syria and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=September 2025#invoke:flag||Jordan#invoke:dts|main|17 June 1946failed verification|reason=The source does not state when Jordan and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=October 2025#invoke:flag||Philippines#invoke:dts|main|4 July 1946#invoke:flag||Sri Lanka#invoke:dts|main|22 October 1946#invoke:flag||Myanmar#invoke:dts|main|7 July 1947#invoke:flag||India#invoke:dts|main|14 August 1947failed verification|reason=The source does not state when India and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=January 2025#invoke:flag||Pakistan#invoke:dts|main|14 August 1947#invoke:flag||South Korea#invoke:dts|main|18 January 1949#invoke:flag||Indonesia#invoke:dts|main|19 December 1949#invoke:flag||Israel#invoke:dts|main|28 April 1950#invoke:flag||Yemen#invoke:dts|main|20 January 1951#invoke:flag||Germany#invoke:dts|main|20 June 1951#invoke:flag||Libya#invoke:dts|main|24 December 1951failed verification|reason=The source does not state when Libya and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=January 2025#invoke:flag||Cambodia#invoke:dts|main|5 May 1952#invoke:flag||China#invoke:dts|main|17 June 1954#invoke:flag||Laos#invoke:dts|main|5 September 1955#invoke:flag||Sudan#invoke:dts|main|3 March 1956failed verification|reason=The source does not state when Sudan and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=January 2025#invoke:flag||Tunisia#invoke:dts|main|19 June 1956failed verification|reason=The source does not state when Tunisia and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=January 2025#invoke:flag||Morocco#invoke:dts|main|28 June 1956failed verification|reason=The source does not state when Morocco and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=June 2025#invoke:flag||Ghana#invoke:dts|main|6 March 1957failed verification|reason=The source does not state when Ghana and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=January 2025#invoke:flag||Malaysia#invoke:dts|main|31 August 1957#invoke:flag||Guinea#invoke:dts|main|28 May 1959failed verification|reason=The source does not state when Guinea and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=January 2025#invoke:flag||Cameroon#invoke:dts|main|1 February 1960failed verification|reason=The source does not state when Cameroon and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=January 2025#invoke:flag||Togo#invoke:dts|main|27 April 1960failed verification|reason=The source does not state when Togo and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=January 2025#invoke:flag||Madagascar#invoke:dts|main|27 June 1960failed verification|reason=The source does not state when Madagascar and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=January 2025#invoke:flag||Democratic Republic of the Congo#invoke:dts|main|7 July 1960failed verification|reason=The source does not state when DR Congo and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=January 2025#invoke:flag||Somalia#invoke:dts|main|7 July 1960#invoke:flag||Cyprus#invoke:dts|main|1 October 1960#invoke:flag||Senegal#invoke:dts|main|20 August 1960failed verification|reason=The source does not state when Senegal and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=January 2025#invoke:flag||Nigeria#invoke:dts|main|1 October 1960#invoke:flag||Benin#invoke:dts|main|6 October 1960failed verification|reason=The source does not state when Benin and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=January 2025#invoke:flag||Burkina Faso#invoke:dts|main|6 October 1960failed verification|reason=The source does not state when Burkina Faso and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=January 2025#invoke:flag||Niger#invoke:dts|main|6 October 1960failed verification|reason=The source does not state when Niger and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=January 2025#invoke:flag||Ivory Coast#invoke:dts|main|12 October 1960#invoke:flag||Mauritania#invoke:dts|main|28 November 1960failed verification|reason=The source does not state when Mauritania and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=January 2025#invoke:flag||Chad#invoke:dts|main|9 December 1960failed verification|reason=The source does not state when Chad and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=January 2025#invoke:flag||Central African Republic#invoke:dts|main|9 December 1960failed verification|reason=The source does not state when the Central African Republic and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=January 2025#invoke:flag||Republic of the Congo#invoke:dts|main|9 December 1960failed verification|reason=The source does not state when the Republic of the Congo and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=January 2025#invoke:flag||Gabon#invoke:dts|main|9 December 1960failed verification|reason=The source does not state when Gabon and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=January 2025#invoke:flag||Mali#invoke:dts|main|22 March 1961failed verification|reason=The source does not state when Mali and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=January 2025#invoke:flag||Sierra Leone#invoke:dts|main|April 1961failed verification|reason=The source does not state when Sierra Leone and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=January 2025#invoke:flag||Kuwait#invoke:dts|main|22 September 1961#invoke:flag||Burundi#invoke:dts|main|1 July 1962failed verification|reason=The source does not state when Burundi and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=January 2025#invoke:flag||Rwanda#invoke:dts|main|1 July 1962failed verification|reason=The source does not state when Rwanda and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=January 2025#invoke:flag||Jamaica#invoke:dts|main|2 August 1962#invoke:flag||Trinidad and Tobago#invoke:dts|main|31 August 1962#invoke:flag||Uganda#invoke:dts|main|9 October 1962failed verification|reason=The source does not state when Uganda and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=January 2025#invoke:flag||Algeria#invoke:dts|main|1962#invoke:flag||MongoliaDate table sorting|23 January 1963#invoke:flag||Kenya#invoke:dts|main|1963#invoke:flag||Tanzania#invoke:dts|main|22 April 1964#invoke:flag||Malawi#invoke:dts|main|6 July 1964failed verification|reason=The source does not state when Malawi and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=January 2025#invoke:flag||Malta#invoke:dts|main|21 September 1964#invoke:flag||Zambia#invoke:dts|main|17 October 1964failed verification|reason=The source does not state when Zambia and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=January 2025#invoke:flag||Gambia#invoke:dts|main|1 January 1965failed verification|reason=The source does not state when the Gambia and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=January 2025#invoke:flag||Maldives#invoke:dts|main|26 July 1965#invoke:flag||Singapore#invoke:dts|main|9 August 1965#invoke:flag||Guyana#invoke:dts|main|26 May 1966#invoke:flag||Botswana#invoke:dts|main|30 September 1966failed verification|reason=The source does not state when Botswana and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=January 2025#invoke:flag||Barbados#invoke:dts|main|30 November 1966#invoke:flag||Lesotho#invoke:dts|main|4 October 1966#invoke:flag||Mauritius#invoke:dts|main|12 March 1968failed verification|reason=The source does not state when Mauritius and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=January 2025#invoke:flag||Eswatini#invoke:dts|main|6 September 1968failed verification|reason=The source does not state when Eswatini and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=January 2025#invoke:flag||Equatorial Guinea#invoke:dts|main|20 June 1969failed verification|reason=The source does not state when Equatorial Guinea and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=January 2025#invoke:flag||Tonga#invoke:dts|main|4 June 1970#invoke:flag||Samoa#invoke:dts|main|September 1970|format=dmy#invoke:flag||Fiji#invoke:dts|main|10 October 1970#invoke:flag||Oman#invoke:dts|main|21 May 1971#invoke:flag||Bahrain#invoke:dts|main|21 August 1971#invoke:flag||United Arab Emirates#invoke:dts|main|6 December 1971failed verification|reason=The source does not state when the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=January 2025#invoke:flag||Bangladesh#invoke:dts|main|4 February 1972#invoke:flag||Qatar#invoke:dts|main|24 May 1972#invoke:flag||Bahamas#invoke:dts|main|10 July 1973#invoke:flag||Vietnam#invoke:dts|main|11 September 1973#invoke:flag||Grenada#invoke:dts|main|7 February 1974failed verification|reason=The source does not state when Grenada and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=January 2025#invoke:flag||Guinea-Bissau#invoke:dts|main|12 March 1975failed verification|reason=The source does not state when Guinea-Bissau and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=January 2025#invoke:flag||Mozambique#invoke:dts|main|27 August 1975#invoke:flag||Papua New GuineaDate table sorting|16 September 1975#invoke:flag||Suriname#invoke:dts|main|31 March 1976|format=dmy#invoke:flag||Seychelles#invoke:dts|main|29 June 1976#invoke:flag||Cape Verde#invoke:dts|main|17 May 1977failed verification|reason=The source does not state when Cape Verde and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=January 2025#invoke:flag||ComorosDate table sorting|3 October 1977failed verification|reason=The source does not state when Comoros and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=January 2025#invoke:flag||Angola#invoke:dts|main|14 October 1977#invoke:flag||Nauru#invoke:dts|main|1 December 1977failed verification|reason=The source does not state when Nauru and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=January 2025#invoke:flag||Djibouti#invoke:dts|main|25 January 1978failed verification|reason=The source does not state when Djibouti and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=January 2025#invoke:flag||Solomon Islands#invoke:dts|main|7 July 1978#invoke:flag||Tuvalu#invoke:dts|main|1 October 1978failed verification|reason=The source does not state when Tuvalu and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=January 2025#invoke:flag||Dominica#invoke:dts|main|13 December 1978failed verification|reason=The source does not state when Dominica and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=January 2025#invoke:flag||Saint Lucia#invoke:dts|main|1979#invoke:flag||Kiribati#invoke:dts|main|12 July 1979failed verification|reason=The source does not state when Kiribati and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=January 2025#invoke:flag||Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesDate table sorting|27 October 1979#invoke:flag||São Tomé and Príncipe#invoke:dts|main|3 December 1979failed verification|reason=The source does not state when São Tomé and Príncipe and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=January 2025#invoke:flag||Zimbabwe#invoke:dts|main|18 April 1980failed verification|reason=The source does not state when Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=January 2025#invoke:flag||Vanuatu#invoke:dts|main|30 July 1980#invoke:flag||BelizeDate table sorting|21 September 1981#invoke:flag||Antigua and Barbuda#invoke:dts|main|1 November 1981failed verification|reason=The source does not state when Antigua and Barbuda and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=January 2025#invoke:flag||Holy See#invoke:dts|main|16 January 1982#invoke:flag||Saint Kitts and Nevis#invoke:dts|main|19 September 1983#invoke:flag||BruneiDate table sorting|1 January 1984#invoke:flag||NamibiaDate table sorting|21 March 1990#invoke:flag||Lithuania#invoke:dts|main|4 September 1991#invoke:flag||Estonia#invoke:dts|main|5 September 1991#invoke:flag||Latvia#invoke:dts|main|5 September 1991#invoke:flag||Ukraine#invoke:dts|main|10 January 1992#invoke:flag||Slovenia#invoke:dts|main|15 January 1992#invoke:flag||Tajikistan#invoke:dts|main|15 January 1992#invoke:flag||Moldova#invoke:dts|main|17 January 1992#invoke:flag||KazakhstanDate table sorting|19 January 1992#invoke:flag||Armenia#invoke:dts|main|20 January 1992#invoke:flag||Turkmenistan#invoke:dts|main|23 January 1992#invoke:flag||Belarus#invoke:dts|main|27 January 1992#invoke:flag||Marshall Islands#invoke:dts|main|2 February 1992#invoke:flag||Liechtenstein#invoke:dts|main|6 February 1992failed verification|reason=The source does not state when Liechtenstein and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=January 2025#invoke:flag||Uzbekistan#invoke:dts|main|18 February 1992#invoke:flag||Azerbaijan#invoke:dts|main|11 March 1992#invoke:flag||Bosnia and HerzegovinaDate table sorting|13 April 1992#invoke:flag||Georgia#invoke:dts|main|27 April 1992#invoke:flag||KyrgyzstanDate table sorting|12 June 1992#invoke:flag||Croatia#invoke:dts|main|24 June 1992#invoke:flag||Federated States of MicronesiaDate table sorting|31 August 1992#invoke:flag||Slovakia#invoke:dts|main|1 January 1993#invoke:flag||Eritrea#invoke:dts|main|16 November 1993failed verification|reason=The source does not state when Eritrea and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=January 2025#invoke:flag||North MacedoniaDate table sorting|16 December 1993#invoke:flag||AndorraDate table sorting|9 March 1994#invoke:flag||PalauDate table sorting|16 August 1996#invoke:flag||San Marino#invoke:dts|main|18 November 1998#invoke:flag||North KoreaDate table sorting|12 December 2000#invoke:flag||Timor-Leste#invoke:dts|main|2002#invoke:flag||Montenegro#invoke:dts|main|2006|6|13|format=dmy#invoke:flag||Monaco#invoke:dts|main|21 September 2007#invoke:flag||KosovoDate table sorting|18 February 2008#invoke:flag||South Sudan#invoke:dts|main|9 July 2011failed verification|reason=The source does not state when South Sudan and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=January 2025#invoke:flag||State of Palestinedts|5 January 2026

Bilateral relations

Africa

Asia

Europe

North America

Oceania

CountrySinceNotes
See Australia–United Kingdom relations
File:Prime Minister Keir Starmer attends CHOGM Summit in Samoa -Day 2.jpg|thumb|Prime Minister Keir Starmer with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at a Commonwealth summit in Apia, October 2024
The UK established diplomatic relations with Australia in March 1936. Both countries are Commonwealth Realms.
The UK governed Australia from the late 18th century until 1942, when Australia achieved full independence.
Both countries share common membership of AUKUS, the Coalition of the Willing, the Commonwealth, CPTPP, Five Eyes, the Five Power Defence Arrangements, the G20, the International Criminal Court, OECD, the UKUSA Agreement, the United Nations, the World Health Organization, and the World Trade Organization. Bilaterally the two countries have a Climate and Energy Partnership, Defence Agreement, a Double Taxation Agreement, a Free Trade Agreement, and a Reciprocal Healthcare Agreement.
N/ASee Cook Islands–United Kingdom relations
File:Foreign Secretary James Cleverly attends UNGA Day 2.jpg|thumb|Foreign Secretary James Cleverly with Cook Islander Prime Minister Mark Brown at a United Nations General Assembly in New York City, September 2023
The UK has not established diplomatic relations with the Cook Islands; the UK does not recognise the Cook Islands to be a sovereign nation.
  • The Cook Islands does not maintain an embassy in the United Kingdom.
  • The United Kingdom is not accredited to the Cook Islands through an embassy; the UK develops relations through its high commission in Wellington, New Zealand.
The UK governed the Cook Islands from 1888 until 1901, when the Cook Islands were transferred to New Zealand.
Both countries share common membership of the World Health Organization.
See Foreign relations of the Federated States of Micronesia
The UK established diplomatic relations with the Federated States of Micronesia on 31 August 1992.
  • Federated States of Micronesia does not maintain an embassy in the United Kingdom.
  • The United Kingdom is not accredited to the Federated States of Micronesia through an embassy; the UK develops relations through its high commission in Suva, Fiji.
Both countries share common membership of the United Nations, and the World Health Organization.
See Fiji–United Kingdom relations
The UK established diplomatic relations with Fiji on 10 October 1970.
The UK governed Fiji from 1874 until 1970, when Fiji 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 Pacific States–United Kingdom Economic Partnership Agreement. Bilaterally the two countries have a Double Taxation Convention.
See Kiribati–United Kingdom relations
The UK established diplomatic relations with Kiribati on 12 July 1979.
  • Kiribati does not maintain a high commission in the United Kingdom.
  • The United Kingdom is not accredited to Kiribati through a high commission; the UK develops relations through its high commission in Suva, Fiji.
The UK governed Kiribati from 1892 until 1979, when Kiribati achieved full independence as an independent Commonwealth republic.
Both countries share common membership of the Commonwealth, the International Criminal Court the United Nations, and the World Health Organization. Bilaterally the two countries have a Double Taxation Agreement.
See Marshall Islands–United Kingdom relations
The UK established diplomatic relations with the Marshall Islands on 2 February 1992.
  • The Marshall Islands does not maintain an embassy in the United Kingdom.
  • The United Kingdom is not accredited to the Marshall Islands through an embassy; the UK develops relations through its high commission in Suva, Fiji.
Both countries share common membership of the International Criminal Court, the United Nations, and the World Health Organization. Bilaterally the two countries have a Tax Information Exchange Agreement.
See Nauru–United Kingdom relations
File:Zac Goldsmith meets with HE Russ Joseph Kun President of the Republic of Nauru.jpg|thumb|British Pacific Minister Zac Goldsmith with Nauruan President Russ Kun in London, May 2023
The UK established diplomatic relations with Nauru on 1 December 1977.
  • Nauru does not maintain an embassy in the United Kingdom.
  • The United Kingdom is not accredited to Nauru through an embassy; the UK develops relations through its high commission in Honiara, Solomon Islands.
The UK officially governed Nauru jointly with Australia and New Zealand from 1914 until 1968, when Nauru achieved full independence.
Both countries share common membership of the Commonwealth, the International Criminal Court, the United Nations, and the World Health Organization.
See New Zealand–United Kingdom relations
File:Prime Minister Keir Starmer attends CHOGM Summit in Samoa.jpg|thumb|Prime Minister Keir Starmer with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon at a Commonwealth summit in Apia, October 2024
The UK established diplomatic relations with New Zealand in March 1939. Both countries are Commonwealth Realms.
The UK governed New Zealand from 1840 until 1947, when New Zealand achieved full independence.
Both countries share common membership of the Coalition of the Willing, the Commonwealth, CPTPP, Five Eyes, the Five Power Defence Arrangements, the International Criminal Court, OECD, the UKUSA Agreement, the United Nations, the World Health Organization, and the World Trade Organization. Bilaterally the two countries have Free Trade Agreement, and a Reciprocal Healthcare Agreement.
N/ASee Niue–United Kingdom relations
The UK has not established diplomatic relations with Niue; the UK does not recognise Niue to be a sovereign nation.
  • Niue does not maintain an embassy in the United Kingdom.
  • The United Kingdom is not accredited to Niue through an embassy; the UK develops relations through its high commission in Wellington, New Zealand.
The UK governed Niue from 1900 until 1901, when Niue was transferred to New Zealand.
Both countries share common membership of the World Health Organization.
See Foreign relations of Palau
The UK established diplomatic relations with Palau on 16 August 1996.
  • Palau does not maintain an embassy in the United Kingdom.
  • The United Kingdom is not accredited to Palau through an embassy; the UK develops relations through its embassy in Manila, Philippines.
Both countries share common membership of the United Nations, and the World Health Organization.
See Papua New Guinea–United Kingdom relations
The UK established diplomatic relations with Papua New Guinea on 16 September 1975. Both countries are Commonwealth Realms.
The UK governed Papua New Guinea from 1884 until 1906, when the territory was transferred to Australia.
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 Pacific States–United Kingdom Economic Partnership Agreement. Bilaterally the two countries have a Double Taxation Convention, an Investment Agreement, and a Security Agreement.
See Samoa–United Kingdom relations
File:Prime Minister Keir Starmer attends CHOGM Summit in Samoa -Day 2.jpg|thumb|Prime Minister Keir Starmer with Samoan Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa at a Commonwealth summit in Apia, October 2024
The UK established diplomatic relations with Samoa in September 1970.
  • Samoa is not accredited to the UK through an embassy; Samoa develops relations through its embassy in Brussels, Belgium.
  • The United Kingdom is accredited to Samoa through its high commission in Apia.
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 Pacific States–United Kingdom Economic Partnership Agreement.
See Solomon Islands–United Kingdom relations
The UK established diplomatic relations with the Solomon Islands on 7 July 1978. Both countries are Commonwealth Realms.
  • Solomon Islands does not maintain a high commission in the United Kingdom.
  • The United Kingdom is accredited to the Solomon Islands through its high commission in Honiara.
The UK governed the Solomon Islands from 1893 until 1978, when the Solomon Islands achieved full independence.
Both countries share common membership of the Commonwealth, the United Nations, the World Health Organization, and the World Trade Organization, as well as the Pacific States–United Kingdom Economic Partnership Agreement. Bilaterally the two countries have a Double Taxation Agreement.
See Tonga–United Kingdom relations
The UK established diplomatic relations with Tonga on 4 June 1970.
The UK governed Tonga from 1900 until 1970, when Tonga achieved full independence.
Both countries share common membership of the Commonwealth, the United Nations, the World Health Organization, and the World Trade Organization. Bilaterally the two countries have an Investment Agreement.
Tuvalufailed verification|reason=The source does not state when Tuvalu and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations.|date=November 2025#invoke:flag||VanuatuDate table sorting|1980

South America

Sovereignty disputes

List of territorial disputes involving the United Kingdom:
TerritoryClaimantsNotes
Antarctica
See claims in Antarctica">Chagos Archipelago sovereignty dispute">claims in Antarctica
The United Kingdom claims the area between and as a British Overseas Territory. The area between 25°W and 53°W overlaps Argentina's claim. The area between 74°W and 80°W overlaps Chile's claim. The area between 53°W and 74°W overlaps the claims of both Argentina and Chile.
Chagos Archipelago

See Chagos Archipelago sovereignty dispute
The United Kingdom de facto administers the archipelago as the British Indian Ocean Territory. Mauritius claims the islands. On 22 May 2025, Mauritius and the United Kingdom signed a deal to hand sovereignty over to Mauritius; the dispute will end once the deal is ratified by both parties.
Rock of Gibraltar

See Status of Gibraltar
The United Kingdom de facto governs Gibraltar as a British Overseas Territory. Spain claims Gibraltar, disputing the interpretation of the Treaty of Utrecht, as well as the location of the border. Gibraltarians voted overwhelmingly to remain under British sovereignty in 1967 and 2002.
Falkland Islands

See Falkland Islands sovereignty dispute
The United Kingdom de facto governs the Falkland Islands as a British Overseas Territory. Argentina claims the Islands as part of its Province of Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica and South Atlantic Islands province. In 1982, the dispute escalated when Argentina invaded the islands during the Falklands War. In 2013, the Falkland Islanders voted overwhelmingly to remain a British Overseas Territory.
Rockall Bank
See Rockall Bank dispute
Rockall is an uninhabited islet located within the exclusive economic zone of the UK. Ireland, Denmark, Iceland, and the UK have all made submissions to the commission set up under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
South Georgia,
South Sandwich Islands


See South Georgia and the [South Sandwich Islands sovereignty dispute]
The United Kingdom de facto governs South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands as a British Overseas Territory. Argentina claims the Islands as part of its Province of Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica and South Atlantic Islands province. In 1982, the dispute escalated when Argentina invaded South Georgia during the Falklands War.

Commonwealth of Nations

The UK has varied relationships with the countries that make up the Commonwealth of Nations which originated from the British Empire. Charles III of the United Kingdom is Head of the Commonwealth and is King of 15 of its 56 member states. Those that retain the King as head of state are called Commonwealth realms. Over time several countries have been suspended from the Commonwealth for various reasons. Zimbabwe was suspended because of the authoritarian rule of its President.

International organisations

The United Kingdom is a member of the following international organisations:

Category:United Kingdom and the Commonwealth of Nations]
Category:United Kingdom–European Union relations
Category:United Kingdom and the United Nations