This is a summary history of diplomatic relations of the United States listed by country. The history of diplomatic relations of the United States began with the appointment of Benjamin Franklin as U.S. Minister to France in 1778, even before the U.S. had won its independence from Great Britain in 1783.
The information is drawn from official records of the United States Department of State. This history encompasses the following information for each nation that the United States has recognized, or with which the U.S. has had diplomatic relations: Country name Date of establishment of a consulate in that country, or date of appointment of a consul. Date on which the U.S. recognized the country. Date of establishment of diplomatic relations with the country. This is often, but not always, the date of appointment of the first minister or ambassador. The date on which a legation or embassy was established in the country. The name of the first minister or ambassador to the country. In many cases, a chargé d’affaires was appointed first and represented the U.S. until an envoy was commissioned. The date on which diplomatic relations ended between the U.S. and the country. Additional notes on U.S. diplomatic relations with the country.
Countries
Afghanistan Consulate: Recognized: 1921 Relations established: 1935 Legation/embassy established: 1942; embassy established in 1946 First ambassador: William Harrison Hornibrook Relations ended: — Notes: U.S. Ambassador Adolph Dubs was assassinated in 1979. The U.S. Embassy at Kabul was closed on January 30, 1989, due to concerns that the new regime would not be able protect diplomats after the Soviet withdrawal. Following the ouster of the Taliban, the embassy was reopened in January 2002 with Ryan Crocker as ambassador.
Albania (1) Consulate: Recognized: 1922 Relations established: 1922 Legation/embassy established: 1922 First ambassador: Ulysses Grant-Smith Relations ended: 1939 Notes: U.S.–Albanian diplomatic relations ended on June 5, 1939, after the Italian invasion of Albania, when the Albanian Minister for Foreign Affairs notified the American Minister in Albania that Italy had taken control of Albania's foreign affairs.
Albania (2) Consulate: Recognized: 1991 Relations established: 1991 Legation/embassy established: 1991 First ambassador: William Edwin Ryerson Relations ended: —
Algeria Consulate: 1796 Recognized: 1962 Relations established: 1962 Legation/embassy established: 1962 First ambassador: William J. Porter Relations ended: — Notes: Algeria severed diplomatic relations with the U.S. in 1967 in the wake of the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. A U.S. Interests Section was established in the Swiss Embassy. Relations were reestablished in 1974.
Andorra Consulate: Recognized: 1995 Relations established: 1995 Legation/embassy established: — First ambassador: Edward L. Romero (1998) Relations ended: — Notes: The U.S. Ambassador to Spain is also accredited to Andorra while resident in Madrid. There is no U.S. embassy in Andorra.
Angola Consulate: 1992 Recognized: 1993 Relations established: 1994 Legation/embassy established: 1994 First ambassador: Edmund T. DeJarnette Relations ended: — Notes: Angola became independent of Portugal in 1975, but the U.S. did not recognize the government of Angola declared by the MPLA. The U.S. recognized Angola after multiparty elections were held in 1992.
Antigua and Barbuda Consulate: Recognized: 1981 Relations established: 1981 Legation/embassy established: 1981 First ambassador: Milan D. Bish Relations ended: — Notes: The American Embassy at St. Johns was closed June 30, 1994. Subsequent ambassadors to Antigua and Barbuda remained resident at Bridgetown, Barbados.
Arab Federation Consulate: Recognized: 1958 Relations established: — Legation/embassy established: — First ambassador: — Relations ended: 1958 Notes: The Arab Federation was a short-lived union between Iraq and Jordan, that lasted February 14 – August 2, 1958. The U.S. recognized the federation but never established diplomatic relations.
Argentina Consulate: Recognized: 1823 Relations established: 1823 Legation/embassy established: 1823 First ambassador: Caesar Augustus Rodney Relations ended: — Notes: Diplomatic relations were interrupted in 1944 and resumed in 1945.
Armenia (1) Consulate: 1896 Recognized: 1920 Relations established: — Legation/embassy established: — First ambassador: Steven Mann (chargé d’affaires) Relations ended: 1920 Notes: By the end of 1920, the Armenian Republic had ceased to exist as an independent state, with its territory either seized by Turkey or established as the Armenian Soviet Republic, which subsequently joined the Soviet Union.
Armenia (2) Consulate: Recognized: 1991 Relations established: 1992 Legation/embassy established: 1992 First ambassador: Harry J. Gilmore Relations ended: —
Australia Consulate: Recognized: 1940 Relations established: 1940 Legation/embassy established: 1940 First ambassador: Clarence E. Gauss Relations ended: —
Austrian Empire Consulate: 1797 Recognized: 1838 Relations established: 1838 Legation/embassy established: 1838 First ambassador: Henry A. Muhlenberg Relations ended: 1917 Notes: On April 8, 1917, the Austro-Hungarian Empire severed diplomatic relations with the United States. Several months later, on December 7, 1917, the U.S. declared war upon Austria-Hungary.
Austria Consulate: Recognized: 1921 Relations established: 1921 Legation/embassy established: 1921 First ambassador: Albert Henry Washburn Relations ended: — Notes: Relations with Austria were broken in 1938 after the Anschluss and resumed in 1946.
Azerbaijan Consulate: Recognized: 1991 Relations established: 1992 Legation/embassy established: 1992 First ambassador: Robert Finn Relations ended: —
Baden, Grand Duchy of Consulate: 1832 Recognized: 1832 Relations established: 1832 Legation/embassy established: 1833* First ambassador: C.F. Hoyer (Consul) Relations ended: 1917 Notes: Relations were with the Grand Duchy of Baden were severed in 1917 when the U.S. entered WWI.
Bahamas Consulate: Recognized: 1973 Relations established: 1973 Legation/embassy established: 1973 First ambassador: Moncrieff J. Spear Relations ended: —
Bahrain Consulate: Recognized: 1971 Relations established: 1971 Legation/embassy established: 1971 First ambassador: Joseph W. Twinam (1974) Relations ended: —
Bangladesh Consulate: 1949 Recognized: 1972 Relations established: 1972 Legation/embassy established: 1972 First ambassador: Davis Eugene Boster Relations ended: — Notes: The consulate in Dhaka was established when Bangladesh was a province of Pakistan known as East Pakistan.
Barbados Consulate: 1823 Recognized: 1966 Relations established: 1966 Legation/embassy established: 1966 First ambassador: Frederic R. Mann (1967) Relations ended: — Notes: The U.S. consulate in Barbados was established when Barbados was a British colony.
Bavaria Consulate: 1833 Recognized: 1833 Relations established: 1833 Legation/embassy established: — First ambassador: Robert de Ruedorffer (Consul) Relations ended: 1917 Notes: George Bancroft was the U.S. minister to Prussia and was specially accredited to Bavaria, but was not the official minister. Relations with Bavaria were severed in 1917 when the U.S. entered WWI.
Belarus Consulate: Recognized: 1991 Relations established: 1991 Legation/embassy established: 1992 First ambassador: David Heywood Swartz Relations ended: — Notes: U.S. Ambassador Karen B. Stewart was recalled in 2008. no ambassador had been appointed.
Belgium Consulate: Recognized: 1832 Relations established: 1832 Legation/embassy established: 1832 First ambassador: John Jacob Seibels (1854) Relations ended: — Notes: A series of chargés d’affaires represented the U.S. in Belgium until 1854 when the first ranking minister was appointed. The United States closed its embassy in Brussels on July 15, 1940, after the German invasion of Belgium. The embassy was reopened September 14, 1944. During the war, relations were maintained with the government-in-exile in London.
Belize Consulate: 1847 Recognized: 1981 Relations established: 1981 Legation/embassy established: 1981 First ambassador: Malcolm R. Barnebey Relations ended: —
Benin Consulate: Recognized: 1960 Relations established: 1960 Legation/embassy established: 1961 First ambassador: R. Borden Reams Relations ended: — Notes: Ambassador Reams was commissioned to Dahomey, Ivory Coast, Niger, and Upper Volta while resident in Abidjan. Benin was known as Dahomey until 1975.
Bhutan Consulate: — Recognition: — Diplomatic relations: — First ambassador: — Relations ended: — Notes: There is no record of U.S. recognition of Bhutan, and the U.S. does not maintain diplomatic relations with Bhutan. The U.S. embassy in New Delhi, India, has consular responsibilities for Bhutan. Informal contact is maintained through the U.S. embassy and the Bhutanese embassy in New Delhi.
Bolivia Consulate: Recognized: 1848 Relations established: 1849 Legation/embassy established: 1849 First ambassador: John W. Dana (1854) Relations ended: — Notes: A series of chargés represented the U.S. to Bolivia until the first ranking minister was appointed in 1854. See also Peru–Bolivia Confederation.
Bosnia and Herzegovina Consulate: Recognized: 1992 Relations established: 1992 Legation/embassy established: 1993 First ambassador: Victor Jackovich Relations ended: —
Botswana Consulate: Recognized: 1966 Relations established: 1966 Legation/embassy established: 1966 First ambassador: Charles J. Nelson (1971) Relations ended: — Notes: Until 1979 one ambassador was accredited to Botswana, Swaziland, and Lesotho while resident at Gaborone.
Brazil Consulate: Recognized: 1824 Relations established: 1824 Legation/embassy established: 1825 First ambassador: William Hunter (1842) Relations ended: — Notes: A series of chargés represented the U.S. to Brazil until the first ranking minister was appointed in 1842.
Brunei Consulate: 1865 Recognized: 1984 Relations established: 1984 Legation/embassy established: 1984 First ambassador: Barrington King Relations ended: —
Brunswick-Lüneburg, Duchy of Consulate: 1856 Recognized: 1848 Relations established: — Legation/embassy established: — First ambassador: — Relations ended: 1916 Notes: The United States and the Duchy recognized each other but never established diplomatic relation. The Duchy joined the North German Confederation in 1867 and thus ceased to handle its own foreign affairs.
Bulgaria Consulate: 1912 Recognized: 1908 Relations established: 1903 Legation/embassy established: 1919 First ambassador: John Ridgely Carter (1910) Relations ended: — Notes: A series of representatives with the title Diplomatic Agent represented the U.S. in Bulgaria until the first ranking minister was appointed in 1910. The first ministers were accredited to Romania, Serbia, and Bulgaria, while resident at Bucharest, Romania. Bulgaria severed diplomatic relations with the U.S. in 1941. Relations were reestablished in 1947, and the legation was reopened. Relations were again severed in 1950 and resumed in 1959.
Burkina Faso Consulate: Recognized: 1960 Relations established: 1960 Legation/embassy established: 1960 First ambassador: R. Borden Reams Relations ended: — Notes: Burkina Faso was known as Upper Volta Until 1984. Ambassador Reams was commissioned to Dahomey, Ivory Coast, Niger, and Upper Volta while resident in Abidjan.
Burma Consulate: Recognized: 1948 Relations established: 1947 Legation/embassy established: 1947 First ambassador: J. Klahr Huddle Relations ended: — Notes: In 1989 the government of Burma changed the name of the country to Myanmar, but the U.S. and other nations do not recognize the legitimacy of the government and hence the change of name.
Burundi Consulate: Recognized: 1962 Relations established: 1962 Legation/embassy established: 1962 First ambassador: Donald A. Dumont Relations ended: —
Cambodia Consulate: Recognized: 1950 Relations established: 1950