Haiti was one of the original members of the League of Nations, and was one of the original members of the United Nations and several of its specialized and related agencies. It is also a founding member of the Organization of American States. Haiti also has diplomatic relations with the Republic of China, commonly known as Taiwan, instead of the People's Republic of China. Taiwan is one of Haiti's major trading partners and the two countries maintain very friendly relations. Haiti has also re-established very warm relations with Cuba in which a major act of bilateral cooperation has resulted in Cuba's large contribution of doctors to the country. The Haitian government has publicly shown admiration to Fidel Castro and his administration.
The international community rallied to Haiti's defense during the 1991 to 1994 period of illegal military rule. Thirty-one countries participated in the U.S.-led Multinational Force (MNF) which, acting under UN auspices, intervened in September 1994 to help restore the legitimate government and create a secure and stable environment in Haiti. At its peak, the MNF included roughly 21,000 troops, mostly Americans, and more than 1,000 international police monitors. Within six months, the troop level was gradually reduced as the MNF transitioned to a 6,000 strong peacekeeping force, the UN Mission in Haiti (UNMIH). UNMIH was charged with maintaining the secure environment, which the MNF had helped establish, as well as nurturing Haiti's new police force through the presence of 900 police advisors. A total of 38 countries participated in UNMIH.
In order to spur Haiti's social and economic recovery from three years of de facto military rule and decades of misrule before that, international development banks and donor agencies pledged in 1994 to provide over US$2 billion in assistance by 1999. Disbursements were largely conditioned on progress in economic reform. Parliamentary inaction, principally as a result of the political struggles and gridlock that plagued Haiti since 1996, resulted in the blockage of much of this assistance as disbursement conditions were not met. The electoral crisis that has brewed in the aftermath of the 21 May 2000 local and parliamentary elections has resulted in the blockage of most multilateral and bilateral assistance. Major donors are led by the United States, with the largest bilateral assistance program, and also include Canada, People's Republic of China, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, South Korea, Republic of China (Taiwan) and the United Kingdom. Multilateral aid is coordinated through an informal grouping of major donors under the auspices of the World Bank which, in addition to the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the European Union, is also a major source of Haitian development assistance.
Visas are required for citizens of Colombia and Panama due to the actions of nationals of those two countries in using Haiti as a drop-off point for narcotic drugs bound for the United States. Panama's proximity to Colombia and their thriving off-shore banking industry has lured many traffickers to use that nation and Haiti as bases for their activities. Citizens of the Dominican Republic also require visas to visit Haiti, not only due to the hostile, sometimes volatile relations between both nations, but also because since the late 1990s, the Dominican Republic has become another base for illicit drugs bound for the United States, which usually enter illegally via Puerto Rico. Once in Puerto Rico, drugs can easily reach the United States due to the absence of both immigration and customs between that island and the mainland.Embassy of the Republic of Haiti in Washington: Visas
Disputes – international: claims US-administered Navassa Island
Illicit drugs: major Caribbean transshipment point for cocaine en route to the US and Europe (see Illegal drug trade in Haiti)
Diplomatic relations List of countries which Haiti maintains diplomatic relations with: #CountryDate12345—678910111213141516171819202122232425—2627282930313233—343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990919293949596979899100101102103104105106107108109110111112113114115116—117118119120121122123124125126127Unknown128Unknown129Unknown130Unknown131Unknown
Bilateral relations
Africa Country Formal relations began on NotesDecember 1960See Benin–Haiti relations Both countries established diplomatic relations in December 1960 with opened Embassy of Haiti in Dahomey. It was closed in 1963 and reopened in Cotonou in February 2004. Embassy Haiti in Benin was finally closed on 11 December 2018.
Haiti and Benin maintain diplomatic relations with a Haitian office in Cotonou, although Benin does not currently maintain an official diplomatic presence in the country due to the 2010 earthquake. Benin contributed a contingency of 32 police/civilian personnel to MINUSTAH.
The two countries share an extensive cultural history by a way of the Atlantic slave trade and the resulting importing of Haitian Vodou as a religious force in Haitian society. The devastating earthquake was followed, among many reactions, by an outburst of solidarity prayers in Benin with the victims. Traditional ceremonies were organized to appease the spirits and seek the blessing of ancestors for the Haitians.
In December 2018, Haiti closed its embassy in Cotonou.Fermeture de l’ambassade d’Haïti au Bénin (in French) However, the embassy was re-opened in May 2026.Official reopening of the Haitian Embassy in Benin
Benin does not have an accreditation for Haiti. Haiti has an embassy in Cotonou.Embassy of Haiti in Benin Haiti has an honorary consulate in Abidjan. Ivory Coast has a liaison office in Port-au-Prince.14 October 1981Both countries established diplomatic relations on 14 October 1981 when first ambassador of Haiti to Gabon with residence in Dakar Mr Victor Pierre Louis presented his credentials to President Bongo Gabon is accredited to Haiti from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States. Haiti has an honorary consulate in Libreville.20 September 2023See Haiti–Kenya relations
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 20 September 2023.
Kenya offered to lead the Multinational Security Support Mission to Haiti with a force of 1,000 police officers, and this offer was accepted by the UN Security Council in October 2023.
Haitian prime minister Ariel Henry visited Kenya in March 2024 to sign the agreement to deploy the police officers to Haiti.
Haiti is accredited to Kenya from its embassy in Pretoria. Kenya is accredited to Haiti from its embassy in Havana.Haiti and Liberia recognized each other in 1864. The two countries established treaties of friendship and commerce the same year. Haiti has an honorary consulate in Dakar. Senegal is accredited to Haiti from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States.
Americas Country Formal relations began on Notes26 August 1977Both countries established diplomatic relations on 26 August 1977 See The Bahamas–Haiti relations
Haiti has an embassy Nassau. The Bahamas has an embassy in Port-au-Prince. There are over 80,000 Haitians living in the Bahamas.1928See Brazil–Haiti relations Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1928.
Brazil has an embassy in Port-au-Prince.Embassy of Brazil in Port-au-Prince Haiti has an embassy in Brasília, and consulates-general in Florianópolis, Salvador and in São Paulo.Embassy of Haiti in Brasília12 May 1954Both countries established diplomatic relations on 12 May 1954 See Canada–Haiti relations
During the unsettled period from 1957 to 1990, Canada received many Haitian refugees, who now form a significant minority in Quebec. Canada participated in various international interventions in Haiti between 1994 and 2004, and continues to provide substantial aid to Haiti, the second poorest country in the western hemisphere. Canada has an embassy in Port-au-Prince.Embassy of Canada in Port-au-Prince (in English and French) Haiti has an embassy in Ottawa and a consulate-general in Montreal.Embassy of Haiti in Ottawa (in Creole, English and French)See Chile–Haiti relations
Chile sent 650 peacekeeping troops to the island as part of the United Nations peace keeping mission. Praising the work of the Chilean policemen in Haiti, National Police official Javiera Blanco said, "Even though today there is a need for the key presence of this mission, which is in mid term, the exit should be prepared for, considering that the country (Haiti) must take those responsibilities and build their capacities to do what is done by our mission." The police are planned to withdraw from Haiti in 2011.
Haiti has an embassy in Santiago. Chile has an embassy in Port-au-Prince.7 August 1936Both countries established diplomatic relations on 7 August 1936 when Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of Colombia Ricardo Gutiérrez Lee has presented his credentials to Haiti. See Colombia–Haiti relations Haiti has an embassy in Bogotá. Colombia is accredited to Haiti from its embassy in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Colombia reopened its consulate in Port-au-Prince on December 15, 2023, after 2 decades of consular absence. The Consul is Vilma Velásquez3 February 1904Both countries established diplomatic relations on 3 February 1904, which were interrupted on September 28, 1959, and later resumed on February 6, 1996. See Cuba–Haiti relations
Haiti has an embassy in Havana. Cuba has an embassy in Port-au-Prince.9 November 1874Both countries established diplomatic relations on 9 November 1874 See Dominican Republic–Haiti relations
Relations between Haiti and the Dominican Republic vacillated between barely tolerable and potentially combustible throughout the history of both countries' existences, reaching their lowest points in the Haitian invasion of the Dominican Republic, the aftermath of the Parsley Massacre, related Haitian-targeted ethnic cleansing campaigns by the Rafael Trujillo dictatorship and the 2010 earthquake in Port-au-Prince. The periodic influxes of Haitian economic (and, in times past, political) migrants across the border have also strained relations between the two countries at various recent times.
Dominican Republic has an embassy in Port-au-Prince and consulates-general in Anse-à-Pitres and Ouanaminthe and a consulate in Belladère. Haiti has an embassy in Santo Domingo and consulates-general in Dajabón, Higüey, Santa Cruz de Barhona and Santiago de los Caballeros.1948Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1948. See Haiti–Guatemala relations
Haiti has a diplomatic consulate in Guatemala City. Guatemala has a diplomatic consulate in Port-au-Prince. 26 August 1981Both countries established diplomatic relations on 26 August 1981 See Haiti–Jamaica relations
Haiti has an embassy in Kingston, but later closed in 2012.Haiti closes embassy in Kingston, Jamaica Jamaica has an honorary consulate in Port-au-Prince.11 July 1929Both countries established diplomatic relations on 11 July 1929 See Haiti–Mexico relations Haiti has an embassy in Mexico City and a consulates-general in Tapachula and Tijuana.Misiones Extranjeras Acreditadas en México: Haití (in Spanish) Mexico has an embassy in Port-au-Prince.Embassy of Mexico in Port-au-Prince1 October 1862Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 October 1862 See Haiti–United States relations
Haiti has an embassy in Washington, D.C., and a consulates-general in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Miami, New York City and Orlando.Embassy of Haiti in Washington, D.C. United States has an embassy in Port-au-Prince.10 June 1864See Haiti–Venezuela relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 10 June 1864.
Haiti has an embassy in Caracas. Venezuela has an embassy in Port-au-Prince.
Asia Country Formal relations began on NotesSee Bangladesh–Haiti relations