Foreign relations of Tajikistan are based on a desire to secure foreign investment and promote regional security while ensuring Tajikistan's independence. Sirodjidin Aslov is the current Foreign’s Minister of Tajikistan.[1]
Outstanding boundary negotiations include talks begun with Uzbekistan to demine and delimit borders; however, disputes in Isfara Valley delay completion of delimitation with Kyrgyzstan.[2]
List of countries which Tajikistan maintains diplomatic relations with:
Country | Formal relations began | Notes | |
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Afghanistan | See main article: Afghanistan–Tajikistan relations. Relations with neighboring Afghanistan began in 1992 and are generally satisfactory. The areas which form the two countries were once connected, especially during the Samanid, Ghaznavid, and Timurid periods. After a friendship treaty in 1750 between Ahmad Shah Durrani of Afghanistan and Mohammad Murad Beg of Bukhara, the Amu Darya (Oxus River) became the official border of Afghanistan. The Persian language is widely used in both countries, and there are slightly more Tajiks in Afghanistan than Tajikistan.[8] In January 2007, with funding from the United States, Afghanistan and Tajikistan opened a bridge over the Pyanj River linking the two countries. Although the goal is to improve trade, the president of Tajikistan expressed concern that it could also increase drug traffic.[9] In March 2008, Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan issued a joint communique for expanding economic and cultural relations, including improving security.[10] In January 2009, the Afghan government agreed that Tajikistan owned 3,000 hectares of disputed land along the Pyanj River. The issue arose when the river shifted course, leaving several Tajik cotton fields on the Afghan side of the river.[11] | ||
Andorra | 9 November 2007 |
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Armenia | 21 October 1992 | See main article: Armenia–Tajikistan relations.
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Australia | Australia is represented in Tajikistan by its embassy in Moscow.[17] | ||
Austria |
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Azerbaijan | Although both member of CIS, the economic relations between Azerbaijan and Tajikistan stays at a marginal level. However, in July 2012, Tajik Aluminium Company (TALCO) and Azerbaijani company Azeraluminium signed a cooperation agreement during the official visit of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon to the Republic of Azerbaijan for the construction of an oil refinery in the south of Tajikistan.[18] | ||
Bangladesh | 1 March 1992 | See main article: Bangladesh–Tajikistan relations. | |
Belize | 21 December 2017 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on December 21, 2017.[19] | |
Bhutan | 4 January 2013 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 4 January 2013.[20] | |
Brazil | 29 March 1996 |
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Cambodia | 29 November 1995 |
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Canada | 1992 |
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China | See main article: China–Tajikistan relations. At the time of independence, portions of the Tajik boundary with the People's Republic of China were not defined. This boundary dispute was settled in agreements signed in 2002 that would cede 1,000 km2 of the Pamir mountain range to China in return for China relinquishing claims to 28,000 km2 of Tajik lands. In 2016 the official press agency of the People's Republic of China announced that the state will set up an anti-terrorism alliance with Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan.[22] | ||
Croatia | 1 April 1999 | ||
Cyprus |
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Egypt | 1 April 1993 |
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Estonia | 2006 | ||
Finland | 26 February 1992 |
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France |
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Georgia | |||
1992 | See main article: Germany–Tajikistan relations.
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Greece | 1992 | See Greece–Tajikistan relations | |
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India | See main article: India-Tajikistan relations. Diplomatic relations between India and Tajikistan were established soon after Tajikistan gained independence following the 1991 dissolution of the Soviet Union. Tajikistan occupies a strategically important position in Central Asia, bordering Afghanistan and the People's Republic of China and separated by a small strip of Afghan territory from Pakistan. India's role in fighting the Taliban and al-Qaeda and its strategic rivalry with both China and Pakistan have made its ties with Tajikistan important to its strategic and security policies. India's military presence and activities have been significant, beginning with India's extensive support to the anti-Taliban Afghan Northern Alliance (ANA). In 2002, India undertook a US$10 million project to upgrade an old Soviet military base in Ayni, Tajikistan which would support the Northern Alliance forces.[30] The base also had a hospital to treat injured anti-Taliban forces.[31] India provided extensive counter-insurgency military training to Tajikistan and also supplied them with new aircraft.[32] In 2003, the two countries also held a military exercise, the first such war-game by Indian troops in Central Asia. Following the downfall of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, the two countries signed a military agreement to increase military cooperation. Under this agreement, India has deployed 17 Mil Mi-17 helicopters and 150 Indian Army personnel at the Farkhor Air Base with a plan to deploy at least 12 IAF MiG-29s.[33] [34] Despite their common efforts, bilateral trade has been comparatively low, valued at US$12.09 million in 2005; India's exports to Tajikistan were valued at US$6.2 million and its imports at US$5.89 million.[35] A Tajik proposal to transmit electric power to India is currently under review.[36] India gave US$2 million worth emergency aid to Tajikistan during the 2008 Central Asia energy crisis.[37] | ||
1991 | See main article: Iran–Tajikistan relations. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Tajikistan has enjoyed a close relationship with Iran, helped along via a shared Persian identity. Iran was the first nation to establish an embassy in Dushanbe. It was also one of the first countries to extend diplomatic recognition of the newly independent Tajikistan in 1991. Iran provided diplomatic assistance and built new mosques within Tajikistan. Due to the resurgence of Iranian culture within Tajikistan, Iran helped encourage cultural exchange through conferences, media, and film festivals. Iranian television programs, magazines, and books became increasingly common in Tajikistan. However, despite the many things the nations have in common, there are also vast differences. Tajikistan's post communist government is secular while Iran's is Islamic. Furthermore, Iran is a predominantly Shia nation while Tajikistan is Sunni. The leading figures of the Islamic revival movement in Tajikistan have stated that Iran would not be a model for whatever Islamic government they advocate for Tajikistan. As of 2011 Iran is the second largest investor in Tajikistan after China. | ||
Israel | April 1992 | Both countries established diplomatic relations in April 1992.[38] | |
Kazakhstan | 7 January 1993 | See main article: Kazakhstan-Tajikistan relations. | |
Kyrgyzstan | 14 January 1993 | See main article: Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan relations. | |
Japan | 2 February 1992 | Diplomatic relations between Japan and Tajikistan were established on 2 February 1992. Japan opened an embassy at Dushanbe in January 2002, and Tajikistan opened an embassy in Tokyo in November 2007.[39] | |
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Latvia | 11 May 1994 |
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Lithuania | 13 April 1992 |
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Malaysia | 11 March 1992 | See main article: Malaysia–Tajikistan relations. Tajikistan has an embassy in Kuala Lumpur.[42] | |
Malta | 25 September 2007 |
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Mexico | 14 January 1992 |
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Mongolia | 24 April 1992 |
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Montenegro | 23 August 2006. |
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Nepal | 13 September 2005 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 13 September 2005.[47] | |
Netherlands |
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Pakistan | See main article: Pakistan–Tajikistan relations. Relations between the two states were established when the republic of Tajikistan became independent following the collapse of the USSR. Trade and cooperation has steadily grown between the two nations, with several summits being held on how to improve trade between the two nations.[48] [49] Although relations between the two countries had been strained by the situation in Afghanistan which shares a border with both countries.[50] In March 2008 Said Saidbaig, the Tajik Ambassador, announced that his country would be able to export cheap electricity to Pakistan and Iran.[51] There are hundreds of thousands Tajiks living in Pakistan, although nearly all are from Afghanistan, not Tajikistan. | ||
Poland | 11 February 1992 | See main article: Poland–Tajikistan relations.
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Romania | 20 July 1992 |
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See main article: Russia–Tajikistan relations. Until 2005, Russia had 11,000 border guards manning the Tajik frontier with Afghanistan. In September 2012, and after months of negotiating, Russia and Tajikistan have reached an agreement on what Russia will pay for its bases in Tajikistan and extended the lease to 20 or 29 years. The bases are used for 9,000 Russian troops of the 201st Motor Rifle Division. The new deal with Tajikistan makes it worthwhile for Russia to upgrade the four army camps and one air base they occupy. To get the long lease, Russia agreed to sell Tajikistan weapons and military equipment at a sharp discount and train Tajik officers in Russian schools, for free, for the duration of the deal. Tajikistan also promises to help keep the heroin out of Russia.[53] | |||
Serbia | 9 September 1995 |
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South Africa | 5 May 1992 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 5 May 1992.[55] | |
From 1992 to 1993 South Korea has provided Tajikistan with $50,000 worth of aid and with $500,000 worth of equipment during the Afghanistan crisis.[56] | |||
Spain | 4 August 1992 |
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Switzerland | 9 December 1992 |
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1992 | Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1992.
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Turkey | Jan. 29, 1992[58] | See main article: Tajikistan–Turkey relations.
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Ukraine | 24 April 1993 | See main article: Tajikistan–Ukraine relations. | |
United Kingdom | 15 January 1992 | Tajikistan established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 15 January 1992.
Both countries share common membership of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. | |
United States | See main article: Tajikistan–United States relations. U.S.-Tajik relations have developed considerably since the September 11 attacks. The two countries now have a broad-based relationship, cooperating in such areas as counter-narcotics, counter-terrorism, non-proliferation, and regional growth and stability. In light of the Russian border forces' withdrawal from the Tajik-Afghan border, the U.S. Government leads an international donor effort to enhance Tajikistan's territorial integrity, prevent the transit of narcotics and material or technology related to weapons of mass destruction (WMD), and support a stable, peaceful Tajikistan in order to prevent the spread of influence and activities of radical groups and terrorists.
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Uzbekistan | 22 October 1992 | See main article: Tajikistan–Uzbekistan relations. | |
14 July 1992 |
Tajikistan is a member of the following international organisations:
. State.gov (2010-09-22). Retrieved on 2010-10-21.