Foreign relations of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta


The Sovereign Military Order of Malta is a sovereign entity maintaining diplomatic relations with 115 sovereign states. Additionally, it has observer status or representation at multiple intergovernmental organisations. The Order has non-diplomatic official relations with six more states: France, Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Canada and the United Kingdom. The Order exchanges ambassadors with the European Union and the State of Palestine.

Bilateral relations

Diplomatic relations

The Sovereign Military Order of Malta maintains diplomatic relations with 114 United Nations members and the Holy See. It has moreover signed Declarations of Intent with Saint Kitts and Nevis Vanuatu and Palau in preparation for establishing diplomatic relations.

Other countries

Unofficial relations

The Order of Malta has unofficial relations with Taiwan through the Embassy of the Republic of China to the Holy See in Rome.

Countries without established relations

Countries with which the Order currently has no established relations:Europe: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, SwitzerlandAfrica: Algeria, Botswana, Djibouti, Eswatini, Ghana, Libya, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, ZimbabweAsia: Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Indonesia, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, People's Republic of China, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Syria, Taiwan, Turkey, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, YemenOceania: Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, VanuatuThe Americas: Barbados, Dominica, Jamaica, Mexico, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago, United States of America

Intergovernmental organizations

The Order of Malta has observer status at the following organizations:
Organizationobserver sinceNotes
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations
International Atomic Energy Agency
United Nations General Assembly
International Fund for Agricultural Development
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
United Nations Environment Programme
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
United Nations Industrial Development Organization
World Food Programme
World Health Organization

The Order of Malta has delegations or representations to the following organizations:
Organizationparticipates sinceNotes
Council of Europe
International Institute for the Unification of Private Law
Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization Preparatory Commission
Inter-American Development Bank
International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property
International Committee of Military Medicine
International Committee of the Red Cross
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
International Institute of Humanitarian Law
International Organization for Migration
Latin Union