Although Togo's foreign policy is nonaligned, it has strong historical and cultural ties with western Europe, especially France and Germany. Togo is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, exchanging high commissioners with other Commonwealth countries. It recognizes the People's Republic of China, North Korea, and Cuba, and re-established relations with Israel in 1987.

Togo pursues an active foreign policy and participates in many international organizations. It is particularly active in West African regional affairs and in the African Union. Relations between Togo and neighboring states are generally good.

Diplomatic relations List of countries which Togo maintains diplomatic relations with: #CountryDate12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940—4142434445464748495051525354555657—5859606162636465666768697071—72737475767778798081828384858687888990919293949596979899100101102103104105106107108109110111112113114115116117118119120121122123124125126127128129130131132133134135136137138139140141142143144145146147148149150Unknown151Unknown

Bilateral relations Country Formal Relations BeganNotes19 September 1972See China–Togo relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 19 September 1972

China has an embassy in Lomé. Togo has an embassy in Beijing.24 September 2015Cyprus is accredited to Togo from its High Commission in Paris, France.27 April 1960See France–Togo relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 27 April 1960

France has an embassy in Lomé. Togo has an embassy in Paris.27 April 1960Both countries established diplomatic relations on 27 April 1960 See Germany–Togo relations

Germany has an embassy in Lomé. Togo has an embassy in Berlin.21 January 1963See Ghana–Togo relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 21 January 1963.

After 1918, following the defeat of Germany, the League of Nations divided the German colony of Togoland from north to south, a decision that divided the Ewe people among the Gold Coast, British Togoland, and French Togoland. After 1945, the United Nations (UN) took over the Togoland mandates. During the 1950s, when the independence of Ghana was in sight, demands grew for a separate Ewe state, an idea that Kwame Nkrumah, leader of the Gold Coast independence movement, opposed. Following a UN plebiscite in May 1956, in which a majority of the Ewe voted for union with Ghana, British Togoland became part of the Gold Coast. After Togolese independence in 1960, relations between Togo and Ghana deteriorated, aggravated by political differences and incidents such as smuggling across their common border. At times, relations have verged on open aggression.Owusu, Maxwell. "Relations with Immediate African Neighbors". A Country Study: Ghana (La Verle Berry, editor). Library of Congress Federal Research Division (November 1994). This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the Public domain.

The result of the transfer of Togoland to Ghana has meant that many Togolese keep one foot on either side of the border, living in Ghana by night and working in the markets of the capital, Lomé, by day. Ghana is the only Commonwealth member with which Togo shares a border.

Ghana has a high commission in Lomé. Togo has a high commission in Accra.31 August 1962See India–Togo relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 31 August 1962

India has a high commission in Lomé. Togo has a high commission in New Delhi.8 September 1960Both countries established diplomatic relations on 8 September 1960 when has been accredited first Ambassador of Israel to Togo (resident in Accra) Mr. Moshe Bitan. Togo severed ties with Israel on 21 September 1973. Diplomatic relations were re-established on 9 June 1987.

In August 2017, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received Togo's President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbe in Jerusalem during his official five-day trip to Israel. In December 2017, Togo voted at the UN to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.26 July 1963Both countries established diplomatic relations on 26 July 1963, but severed 16 September 1974 and re-established on 23 January 1991 6 December 1962See Togo–Turkey relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 6 December 1962 when accredited first Ambassador of Turkey to Togo (resident in Accra) Mr. Kamran Acet. Turkey has an embassy in Lomé. Trade volume between the two countries was $106 million USD in 2019.27 April 1960Togo established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 27 April 1960. Togo maintains a high commission in London. The United Kingdom is not accredited to Togo through a high commission; the UK develops relations through its high commission in Accra, Ghana.

Both countries share common membership of the Atlantic co-operation pact, the Commonwealth, and the World Trade Organization.27 April 1960Both countries established diplomatic relations on 27 April 1960 See Togo–United States relations

The United States and Togo have had generally good relations since its independence, although the United States has never been one of Togo's major trading partners. The largest share of U.S. exports to Togo generally has been used clothing and scrap textiles. Other important U.S. exports include rice, wheat, shoes, and tobacco products, and U.S. personal computers and other office electronics are becoming more widely used.

Togo has an embassy in Washington, D.C. United States has an embassy in Lomé.

See also List of diplomatic missions in Togo List of diplomatic missions of Togo

References