Foreign Relations Of Tunisia

Tunisia and Algeria resolved a longstanding border dispute in 1993 and have cooperated in the construction of the Trans-Mediterranean natural gas pipeline through Tunisia that connects Algeria to Italy. In 2003 Tunisia and Algeria formed Numhyd, a petroleum company to develop oil resources. It is jointly owned (each 50%) by government corporations, Algeria's Sonatrach and Tunisia's Entreprise Tunisienne d'Activités Pétrolières (ETAP). Recently Tunisia signed an agreement with Algeria in order to demarcate more exactly the maritime frontier between the two countries.

• Algeria has an embassy in Tunis and consulates-general in El Kef and Gafsa.
• Tunisia has an embassy in Algiers, a consulate-general in Annaba and a consulate in Tébessa.

Both countries have established diplomatic relations.

In the 1950s the President of Tunisia, Habib Bourguiba, criticized on pragmatic grounds the type of Arab nationalism then promoted by Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt, which was a widely popular ideology at the time in the Arabic-speaking countries. Their disagreement also concerned the policies of the Arab League. Bourguiba and Nassar eventually came to find some common ground. Although ties were broken under Nasser, and again under Anwar Sadat, on the whole relations between Egypt and Tunisia have remained mutually beneficial.

After the Tunisian revolution in 2011, the Tunisian-Egyptian relations were very good, especially after the 2011 elections in Tunisia, where won the Ennahda Movement Islamic-oriented the elections, as well as the Muslim Brotherhood movement in Egypt won the elections, and also the convergence between the two presidents Moncef Marzouki and Mohamed Morsi. But since the 2013 Egyptian coup d'état, relations became increasingly strained, and between the two and considered Tunisia that what is happening in Egypt is a military coup d'État bloody and protested against it in the United Nations, which led to a diplomatic crisis in relations severed in an indirect way and there is a lack of official visits at all levels. After the 2014 elections in Tunisia and the win of Nidaa Tounes's secular movement, improved relations and exchanged visits between officials and ministers.

• Egypt has an embassy in Tunis.
• Tunisia has an embassy in Cairo.

Tunisia's relations with Libya have been erratic since Tunisia annulled a brief agreement to form a union in 1974. Diplomatic relations were broken in 1976, restored in 1977, and deteriorated again in 1980, when Libyan-trained rebels attempted to seize the town of Gafsa. In 1982, the International Court of Justice ruled in Libya's favor in the partition of the oil-rich continental shelf it shares with Tunisia. Libya's 1985 expulsion of Tunisian workers and military threats led Tunisia to sever relations. Relations were normalized again in 1987. While supporting the United Nations sanctions imposed following airline bombings, Tunisia has been careful to maintain positive relations with its neighbor. Tunisia supported the lifting of UN sanctions against Libya in 2003, and Libya is again becoming a major trading partner. Currently, Tunisia has a maritime dispute with Libya.

• Libya has an embassy in Tunis and a consulate-general in Sfax.
• Tunisia has an embassy in Tripoli and a consulate-general in Benghazi.

Trade is increasing between Tunisia and Morocco. Direct maritime shipping commenced between the two countries in 2008 to supplement rail connections that remained uncertain. Also, the stock exchanges of Tunis and Casablanca this year began to jointly list the stock of a Maghriban company, this initial case involving an IPO.

• Morocco has an embassy in Tunis.
• Tunisia has an embassy in Rabat.

• Argentina has an embassy in Tunis.
• Tunisia has an embassy in Buenos Aires.

Both countries have passed a number of bilateral agreements.

• Brazil has an embassy in Tunis.
• Tunisia has an embassy in Brasília.

• Canada has an embassy in Tunis.
• Tunisia has an embassy in Ottawa and a consulate in Montreal.

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 16 November 1961.

• Mexico is accredited to Tunisia from its embassy in Algiers, Algeria and maintains an honorary consulate in Tunis.
• Tunisia is accredited to Mexico from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States.

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 6 June 1956

 

The United States has very good relations with Tunisia, which date back more than 200 years. The United States has maintained official representation in Tunis almost continuously since 1795, and the American Friendship Treaty with Tunisia was signed in 1799. The two governments are not linked by security treaties, but relations have been close since Tunisia's independence. The United States and Tunisia have an active schedule of joint military exercises. U.S. security assistance historically has played an important role in cementing relations. The U.S.-Tunisian Joint Military Commission meets annually to discuss military cooperation, Tunisia's defense modernization program, and other security matters. Since 2015, Tunisia and the United States are partners under the Major non-NATO partnership agreement.

• Tunisia has an embassy in Washington, D.C.
• United States has an embassy in Tunis.

• Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Tunisia were established on July 1, 1998.
• Relations between Azerbaijan and Tunisia have been developed within the framework of international organizations, including the UN and OIC.
• Azerbaijan is accredited to the Republic of Tunisia through its ambassador in the Kingdom of Morocco.

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 10 January 1964

• China has an embassy in Tunis.
• Tunisia has an embassy in Beijing.

• India has an embassy in Tunis.
• Tunisia has an embassy in New Delhi.

In May, 2005, Tunisia signed with Iran an agreement for cooperation in air, sea, and road transportation. It was signed on the visit of Tunisian minister Abderrahim Zouari to Iran.

• Iran has an embassy in Tunis.
• Tunisia has an embassy in Tehran.

• Israel had an interest office in Tunis between 1996 and 2000.
• Tunisia had an interest office in Tel Aviv between 1996 and 2000.

Tunisia and Japan have a visa agreement, Tunisian people traveling to Japan and Japanese people traveling to Tunisia do not need a visa, as long as their stay do not exceed 3 months. Japan also supports Tunisia, with equipment and money donations. Both countries had friendly relations since Tunisia's independence in 1956. Since 2015, Tunisia and Japan are allies under the Major non-NATO ally agreement.

• Japan has an embassy in Tunis.
• Tunisia has an embassy in Tokyo.

Tunisia and Lebanon share historical and civilizational ties. In June, 2010, the Tunisian Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi and his Lebanese counterpart Mr. Saad Hariri chaired a Tunisian-Lebanese working session. Both countries want to energize the process for the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership. In addition, Tunisia reaffirmed its support of Lebanon.

• Lebanon has an embassy in Tunis.
• Tunisia has an embassy in Beirut.

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 19 August 1957

• Pakistan has an embassy in Tunis.
• Tunisia has an embassy in Islamabad.

Qatar is among the largest Arab investors in Tunisia. Relations between Qatar and Tunisia improved immensely between 2011 and 2013, when Ennahda Movement-affiliated candidate Hamadi Jebali was declared Prime Minister of Tunisia in the 2011 Tunisian Constituent Assembly elections. Cooperation in all fields gradually started picking up traction; for instance, the two governments signed ten bilateral agreements in 2012.

• Qatar has an embassy in Tunis.
• Tunisia has an embassy in Doha.

In July 2010, a Tunisian-Saudi non-double taxation agreement was signed in Tunis, by Finance Minister Ridha Chalghoum and his Saudi counterpart Ibrahim Bin Abdulaziz Al-Assaf. The two ministers said this convention will certainly help boost trade exchanges between Tunisia and Saudi Arabia, stimulate investments, and favour exchange of expertise between the two countries.

In particular, it will further the Tunisian-Saudi Investment and Development Bank "STUSID Bank" in developing financial co-operation and the contribution of the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) to boost the development process in Tunisia. The minister highlighted the importance of drawing on the two countries' expertise in the tax and customs field and set up a joint action plan to strengthen co-operation.

• Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Tunis.
• Tunisia has an embassy in Riyadh and a consulate-general in Jeddah.

The 11th session of the Tunisian-Syrian High Joint Committee met in Tunis in May 2010. The two countries share experience and information on such issues as housing, shipping, and tourism.

• Syria has an embassy in Tunis.
• Tunisia has an embassy in Damascus.
• Tunisia ceased to recognise the government of Syria on 4 February 2012. During his tenure, Hamadi Jebali, the Prime Minister, called on fellow Arab states to follow its lead: "We have to expel the Syrian ambassadors from Arab countries."
• In 2019, France24 speculated that new president Kais Saied could renew his country's diplomatic relations with Syria.
• Following the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake, President Saied decided to strengthen diplomatic ties with Syria.

• Tunisia has an embassy in Ankara and a Consulate General in Istanbul.
• Turkey has an embassy in Tunis.
• Trade volume between the two countries was US$1.09 billion in 2018 (Tunisian exports/imports: 182/904 million USD).
• Yunus Emre Institute has a local headquarters in Tunis.

• Bulgaria has an embassy in Tunis.
• Tunisia is accredited to Bulgaria from its embassy in Belgrade, Serbia.
• Both countries are full members of the Union for the Mediterranean.
• Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Bulgaria (in French only)^{[permanent dead link]}

• Croatia is accredited to Tunisia from its embassy in Rabat, Morocco and maintains an honorary consulate in Tunis.
• Tunisia is accredited to Croatia from its embassy in Vienna, Austria and maintains an honorary consulate in Zagreb.
• Both countries are full members of the Union for the Mediterranean.

• Cyprus is accredited to Tunisia from its embassy in Paris, France
• Tunisia is accredited to Cyprus through its embassy in Rome, Italy and maintains an honorary consulate in Larnaca.
• Both countries are full members of the Union for the Mediterranean.
• Tunisian Foreign Affairs Ministry about relations with Cyprus (in French only)^{[permanent dead link]}

• Denmark is accredited to Tunisia from its embassy in Algiers, Algeria and maintains an honorary consulate in Tunis.
• Tunisia is accredited to Denmark from its embassy in The Hague, Netherlands and maintains an honorary consulate in Copenhagen.
• Both countries are full members of the Union for the Mediterranean.
• Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Denmark (in French only)^{[permanent dead link]}

• Diplomatic relations between them were established on 17 July 1959.
• Finland has an embassy in Tunis.
• Tunisia has an embassy in Helsinki.
• Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland about relations with Tunisia Archived 2011-08-20 at the Wayback Machine

Tunisia and France retain a special relationship due to their history, geographic location, and economic relationship. In France there is a sizeable Tunisian diaspora, and the French language is widely used in Tunisia. Business and government connections are extensive and mutually maintained. Ranked by country, France receives the largest amount of Tunisian exports, and France is number-one regarding Tunisian imports also. In recent years many French companies have re-localized production to Tunisia.

• France has an embassy in Tunis.
• Tunisia has an embassy in Paris, consulates-general in Lyon and Marseille, and consulates in Grenoble, Nice, Pantin, Strasbourg and Toulouse.

• Germany has an embassy in Tunis.
• Tunisia has an embassy in Berlin.

• Greece has an embassy in Tunis.
• Tunisia has an embassy in Athens.

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 20 June 1956.

• Italy has an embassy in Tunis.
• Tunisia has an embassy in Rome, a consulate-general in Palermo and consulates in Genoa, Milan and Naples.

• Both countries established diplomatic relations on 21 December 1967.
• Malta has an embassy in Tunis.
• Tunisia has an embassy in Valletta.
• Both countries are full members of the Union for the Mediterranean.
• Maltese and Tunisian Arabic are very similar languages. The two countries share very rich historical links.

• the Netherlands has an embassy in Tunis.
• Tunisia has an embassy in The Hague.

• Poland has an embassy in Tunis.
• Tunisia has an embassy in Warsaw.

• Romania has an embassy in Tunis.
• Tunisia has an embassy in Bucharest and an honorary consulate in Timișoara.
• Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Romania (in French only)^{[permanent dead link]}

• Russia has an embassy in Tunis.
• Tunisia has an embassy in Moscow.

• Tunisia has an embassy in London.
• United Kingdom has an embassy in Tunis.

• Australia is accredited to Tunisia from its high commission in Valletta, Malta.
• Tunisia is accredited to Australia from its embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia.