View source for Foreign relations of Zambia

{{Featured article}}
After independence in 1964 the '''foreign relations of Zambia''' were mostly focused on supporting liberation movements in other countries in Southern Africa, such as the African National Congress and SWAPO. During the Cold War Zambia was a member of the Non-Aligned Movement.

Zambia is a member of 44 international organizations, with the United Nations, World Trade Organization, African Union and Southern African Development Community being among the most notable.

Zambia is involved in a border dispute concerning the convergence of the boundaries of Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. An additional dispute with the Democratic Republic of Congo concerns the Lunchinda-Pweto Enclave.

==History==
[[File:Zambia123f.jpg|thumb|Kenneth Kaunda visiting communist Romania's dictator, [[Nicolae Ceauşescu]], in 1970.]]
[[File:Carter and Kuanda.png|thumb|Kuanda talking privately with U.S. President [[Jimmy Carter]] at the [[White House]] in 1978]]
[[Image:Levy Mwanawasa and Colin Powell 2004-09-23.jpg|thumb|U.S. Secretary of State [[Colin Powell]] and President of [[Zambia Levy Mwanawasa]] meet in [[New York City|New York]] during the 59th [[UN General Assembly]].]]

After independence in 1964, Zambia was one of the most vocal opponents to white [[minority rule]] and [[colonialism]]. President [[Kenneth Kaunda]], who held office 1964&ndash;1991, was a very visible advocate of change in Southern Africa. He actively supported [[UNITA]] during the [[Angola]]n liberation and [[Angolan Civil War|civil war]], [[SWAPO]] during their fight for [[Namibia]]n independence from [[apartheid]] [[South Africa]], [[Southern Rhodesia]] (now Zimbabwe), and the [[African National Congress]] in their fight against apartheid in South Africa.

Many of these organizations were based in Zambia during the 1970s and 1980s. For this reason South Africa as well as Rhodesia carried out military raids on targets inside Zambia. Zambia's support for the various liberation movements also caused problems for the Zambian economy, since it was heavily dependent on [[electricity supply]] and [[transportation]] through South Africa and Rhodesia. However these problems was partly solved by the [[Kariba Dam]] and the construction of the [[Peoples Republic of China|Chinese]] supported [[TAZARA|Tan-Zam]] railway.

For their part in the liberations struggles, Zambia enjoys wide popularity among the countries they supported as well as all over Africa. For instance, former South African president [[Nelson Mandela]] often refers to the debt South Africa owes Zambia.<ref name="BBC1">{{cite web
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/5099962.stm
| title =  Kenneth Kaunda: A life in power
| publisher = [[BBC]]
| accessdate = 2006-10-22 | date=2006-06-26}}</ref>

During his presidency, Kaunda met with [[John F Kennedy]] and [[Jimmy Carter]]. He also clashed with British [[prime minister]] [[Margaret Thatcher]] on several occasions, disliking her policy towards South Africa.

As with most African states, Zambia was a member of the [[Non-Aligned Movement]] during the [[Cold War]], and is still today. In practice Zambia was more to the [[Left (politics)|left]] than to the [[Right (politics)|right]] during the Cold War. The country had good relations with the [[People's Republic of China]] and with [[Yugoslavia]]. Kaunda is famous in Yugoslavia for crying openly at president [[Josip Broz Tito]]'s funeral.

Kaunda's successor, president [[Frederick Chiluba]] (1991&ndash;2002), also played an important role in African politics. His government played a constructive regional role sponsoring Angola peace talks that led to the 1994 [[Lusaka Protocols]]. Zambia has provided troops to UN [[peacekeeping]] initiatives in [[Mozambique]], [[Rwanda]], [[Angola]], and [[Sierra Leone]]. Zambia was the first African state to cooperate with the International Tribunal investigation of the 1994 [[Rwanda genocide]].

In 1998, Zambia took the lead in efforts to establish a cease-fire in the [[Democratic Republic of Congo]] (DRC). Zambia was active in the Congolese peace effort after the signing of a [[cease-fire]] agreement in Lusaka in July and August 1999, although activity diminished considerably after the Joint Military Commission tasked with implementing the ceasefire relocated to [[Kinshasa]] in September 2001.

==International organizations==

Zambia is a member of 44 different international organisations. These are:<ref name="IO">{{cite web
| url = http://www.geoplace.com/hottopics/CIAwfb/factbook/geos/za.html
| title = The World Factbook - Zambia
| publisher = [[Central Intelligence Agency]]
| accessdate = 2004-05-11 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20041101055721/http://www.geoplace.com/hottopics/CIAwfb/factbook/geos/za.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 2004-11-01}}</ref>

{|
|-
|
* Lomé Convention (ACP)
* African Development Bank (AfDB)
* African Union] (AU)
* Commonwealth of Nations (CN)
* Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
* Group of 77 (G-77)
* [[Image:Flag of IAEA.svg|22px]] [[International Atomic Energy Agency]] (IAEA)
* International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)
* International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
* International Criminal Court (ICCt)
* International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU)
* ICRM
* International Development Association (IDA)
* International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
* International Finance Corporation (IFC)
* International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS)
* International Labour Organization (ILO)
* International Monetary Fund (IMF)
* Interpol
* International Olympic Committee (IOC)
* International Organization for Migration (IOM)
* International Organization for Standardization (ISO, correspondent)
|
* International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
* United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC)
* Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)
* Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)
* Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)
* Southern African Development Community (SADC)
* United Nations (UN)
* United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL)
* United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
* United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
* United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
* United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE)
* United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK)
* United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL)
* Universal Postal Union (UPU)
* WCL
* World Customs Organization (WCO)
* World Health Organization (WHO)
* World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
* World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
* World Tourism Organization (WToO)
* World Trade Organization (WTrO)
|}

Concerning Zambia's membership in the ICC, Zambia has a Bilateral Immunity Agreement of protection for the [[United States]] military from [[prosecution]].

===United Nations===

Zambia joined the [[United Nations]] on December 1, 1964,<ref name="JoinUN">{{cite web
| url = http://www.un.org/Overview/unmember.html
| title = List of Member States
| publisher = United Nations
| accessdate = 2006-10-22}}</ref> only a month after the nation had become independent. Zambia has a [[permanent mission]] to the UN, with headquarters on 237 East [[52nd Street (Manhattan)|52nd Street]], [[New York City|New York]]. The head of the mission is [[Tens Chisola Kapoma]].

[[Image:Rodrigo and Mwanawasa.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[International Monetary Fund]] Managing Director [[Rodrigo Rato]] meeting with the Republic of Zambia's President [[Levy Mwanawasa]].]]

===IMF and World Bank===
{{Empty section|date=June 2008}}

===African cooperation===

[[Zambia]] is a member of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), now known as the African Union, and was its chairman until July 2002. Zambia also takes part in the unions economical cooperation, the African Economic Community (AEC). Among th AEC's different pillars, Zambia takes part in two; Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the preferential trade area Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).

SADC was founded in Zambia's capital [[Lusaka]] on April 1, 1980, and COMESA has its headquarters there as well.

==International disputes==

A dormant dispute remains where Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe's boundaries converge; and with the DRC in the Lunchinda-Pweto Enclave in the North of [[Chienge]] following concerns on the Zambia-Congo Delimitation Treaty raised with the late President Laurent Kabila. The lack of demarcation beacons, and the citizenship rights of people in that enclave remain thorny issues, especially in [[Luapula Province]].

==Zambia and the Commonwealth of Nations==

Zambia has been a Commonwealth republic since the 24th. of October 1964, when [[Northern Rhodesia]] became independent.

==Relations by country==

===Botswana===

{{Empty section|date=January 2011}}

===Democratic Republic of the Congo===

{{Empty section|date=January 2011}}

===Denmark===

{{main|Denmark-Zambia relations}}

* Denmark has an embassy in [[Lusaka]].<ref>http://www.amblusaka.um.dk/en</ref>
* Zambia is represented in Denmark, through its embassy in [[Stockholm]], [[Sweden]].<ref>http://www.worldembassyinformation.com/embassy-of-zambia/denmark.html</ref>

===Finland===

* Start date: 1968-03-08
* Finland recognised Zambia on October 29, 1964.
* Zambia is represented in Finland through its embassy in Stockholm, Sweden.
* Finland has an embassy in [[Lusaka]].
* [http://formin.finland.fi/public/default.aspx?nodeid=17314&culture=en-US&contentlan=2  Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland about Zambia]

===India===
* India has a High Commission in [[Lusaka]].<ref>[http://www.hcizambia.gov.in/ Indian High Commission in Lusaka]</ref><ref>[http://mea.gov.in/indian-mission.htm?241/Zambia Indian mission in Zambia]</ref>
* Zambia has an embassy in [[New Delhi]].<ref>[http://embassynewdelhi.com/zambian/zambian-embassy-in-new-delhi/ Zambian Embassy in India]</ref><ref>[http://zambia.visahq.in/embassy/india/ Zambian Embassy in India contact info]</ref>
* [http://www.hcizambia.gov.in/pages.php?id=16  Bilateral Relations between India and Zambia]

===Ireland===

{{main|Ireland–Zambia relations}}

* Start date--> 1965
* Ireland has an embassy in [[Lusaka]].<ref>[http://www.embassyofireland.co.zm/  Irish embassy in Lusaka]</ref>
* Zambia is represented in Ireland through its high commission in [[London]] ([[United Kingdom]])<ref>[http://www.zhcl.org.uk/  Zambian high commission in London (also accredited to Ireland)]</ref>

===Mozambique===

{{Empty section|date=January 2011}}

===Namibia===

{{Empty section|date=January 2011}}

===Pakistan===

{{Empty section|date=May 2014}}

===Russia===

{{main|Russia–Zambia relations}}

* Start date: 1964
* Russia has an embassy in Lusaka.
* Zambia is represented in Russia by its embassy in Moscow.

===South Africa===
{{main|South Africa – Zambia relations}}

Zambia was a strong supporter of the [[African National Congress]] during [[South Africa under apartheid|their struggle against minority rule]] and hosted the ANC for a number of years. In 2009, nearly 52% of all goods imported to Zambia were from South Africa.

===South Korea===
{{Main|Foreign relations of the Republic of Korea}}

High-level Exchanges 1991 May Special Envoy Chung Won-shik 1994 October Special Envoy Hong Soon-young 1995 May Special Envoy Kim Hang-kyung 2010 May Economic Mission Kim Jung-hoon (The Republic of Korea-Zambia business Forum).<ref>http://www.mofa.go.kr/ENG/countries/middleeast/countries/20070824/1_24463.jsp?menu=m_30_50</ref>

===United States===

{{main|United States – Zambia relations}}

* The U.S. Embassy in Zambia is in [[Lusaka]].
*[http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/04/06/africa/web0406-zambia.php International Herald Tribune: "For the hungry in Zambia, U.S. law may hinder urgent food aid"]

===Zimbabwe===

{{main|Zambia–Zimbabwe relations}}

* From 1953 to 1963 Zambia and Zimbabwe were, along with [[Nyasaland]] (now [[Malawi]]) part of the [[Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland]].<ref>Africa Today [http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-9384404_ITM Friends, neighbors, and former enemies: the evolution of Zambia-Zimbabwe relations in a changing regional context.(Southern Africa in the Postapartheid Era)] by Scarritt, James R. ; Nkiwane, Solomon M.; published 01-JAN-96</ref>
* Initially the two countries had good relations after gaining independence. However, relations have recently been strained. Following the controversial [[Zimbabwean presidential election, 2008|Zimbabwean presidential election of 2008]], the late Zambian President [[Levy Mwanawasa]] described Mugabe's Zimbabwe as a "regional embarrassment".<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/africa/2008/zimbabwe/default.stm "Zimbabwe's neighbours"], BBC, June 2008</ref>
*The former foreign affairs minister, Kabinga Mpande, once said Zambia had lodged a protest against Zimbabwe, against the "sustained malicious campaign against Zambia." <ref>[http://zimbabwemetro.com/2008/06/05/zambia-protests-against-zimbabwe Zambia protests against Zimbabwe]</ref> But relations have improved tremendously with the election of Michael Sata as President of Zambia. It was reported in the Zambian media that Zambia was pushing for the readmission of Zimbabwe into the British led Commonwealth of Nations

==See also==

* [[History of Zambia]]
* [[Politics of Zambia]]
* [[Kenneth Kaunda]]
* [[African Union]]
* [[List of diplomatic missions in Zambia]]
* [[List of diplomatic missions of Zambia]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite web
| url = http://www.un.int/zambia/
| title = Permanent Mission of The Republic of Zambia to The United Nations
| accessdate = 2006-10-22
}}
*{{cite web
| url = http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2359.htm
| title = Background Note: Zambia
| publisher = U.S. Department of State
| accessdate = 2006-10-22
}}
*{{cite web
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/5099962.stm
| title =  Kenneth Kaunda: A life in power
| publisher = BBC
| accessdate = 2006-10-22 | date=2006-06-26}}
{{refend}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Foreign Relations Of Zambia}}
[[Category:Foreign relations of Zambia| ]]
[[Category:Zambia and the Commonwealth of Nations]]