This article deals with the diplomatic affairs, foreign policy and international relations of Uruguay. At the political level, these matters are officially handled by the Ministry of Foreign Relations, also known as Cancillería, which answers to the President.
Overview Uruguay traditionally has had strong political and cultural links with its neighbours and Europe. British diplomat Alfred Mitchell-Innes was Minister to Uruguay throughout the crucial years of World War I (1913–1919).
With globalization and regional economic problems, its links to North America have strengthened. Uruguay is a strong advocate of constitutional democracy, political pluralism, and individual liberties. Its international relations historically have been guided by the principles of nonintervention, multilateralism, respect for national sovereignty, and reliance on the rule of law to settle disputes. Uruguay's international relations also reflect its drive to seek export markets and foreign investment. It is a founding member of MERCOSUR. In June 1991, MERCOSUR and the United States signed the Rose Garden Agreement (also known as the "Four Plus One" Agreement). The agreement was non-operational until June 2001 when MERCOSUR invited the U.S. to discuss the feasibility of market access negotiations. The first U.S.-MERCOSUR meeting was held on September 24, 2001, and resulted in the creation of four working groups on industrial trade, e-commerce, agriculture, and investment.
Uruguay was a member of the Rio Group, an association of Latin American states that deals with multilateral security issues (under the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance), prior to the group's dissolution in 2011. Uruguay's location between Argentina and Brazil makes close relations with these two larger neighbors and MERCOSUR associate members Chile and Bolivia particularly important. An early proponent of the Enterprise for the Americas Initiative, Uruguay has actively participated in the follow-up process to the periodic Summits of the Americas, especially the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). Often considered a neutral country and blessed with a professional diplomatic corps, Uruguay is often called on to preside international bodies. Most recently, Uruguay was selected to chair the FTAA and WTO agricultural committees and a Uruguayan presides over the WTO General Assembly. Uruguay also is a member of the Latin American Integration Association (ALADI), a trade association based in Montevideo that includes 10 South American countries plus Mexico and Cuba.
In 2020, the new right-wing president of Uruguay, Luis Lacalle Pou, announced that he will implement radical changes in Uruguay's foreign policy, taking a harder attitude against disputed President Nicolas Maduro's regime in Venezuela and improving relations with the U.S. The previous left-wing government of Uruguay had recognized Maduro as Venezuela's president. President Luis Lacalle Pou also declared the presidents of Venezuela and Cuba to be "dictators."
Disputes - international: Uncontested disputes with Brazil over tiny Isla Brasilera at the mouth of the Quarai/Cuareim River near the Argentina tripoint, and, 225 kilometers upriver, over the 235 km2. Invernada River region, as to which tributary is the legitimate source of the Quarai/Cuareim River.
In the 1960s, the US Office of Public Safety helped in training Uruguayan police officers. Dan Mitrione taught torture methods used against the civilian population and the Tupamaros.
Diplomatic relations List of countries which Uruguay maintains diplomatic relations with: #CountryDate12345678910111213141516—171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546474849505152535455565758196459—60616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990919294949596979899100101102103104105106107108109110111112113114115116117118119120121122123124125126127128129130131132133134135136137138139140141142—143144145146147148149150151152153154155156157158159160161162163164165—166167168169170171172173174175176177178179180Unknown
Bilateral relations
Africa Country Formal Relations BeganNotesSee Angola–Uruguay relations31 March 1984See Democratic Republic of the Congo–Uruguay relations
In December 2021, President Luis Lacalle Pou paid a visit to Bukavu and Goma and visited with Uruguayan soldiers stationed there as part of MONUSCO in Eastern DR Congo.Presidente uruguayo pasa Navidad con los cascos azules de su país en RDC (in Spanish) DR Congo is accredited to Uruguay from its embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina. See Egypt–Uruguay relations Egypt has an embassy in Montevideo. Uruguay has an embassy in Cairo and an honorary consulate in Alexandria.Uruguayan Ministry of Foreign Affairs: direction of the Uruguayan missions to EgyptSee South Africa–Uruguay relations
South Africa is accredited to Uruguay from its embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Uruguay has an embassy in Pretoria. Americas Country Formal Relations BeganNotes20 July 1811See Argentina–Uruguay relationsSee Bolivia–Uruguay relations See Brazil–Uruguay relations Brazil and Uruguay are neighboring countries that share close historical, cultural and geographical ties. The singularity of the bilateral relationship between the two countries originates from the strong historical connection - marked by important events, such as the establishment of the Colônia do Sacramento in 1680, the annexation by Brazil and the subsequent creation of the Província Cisplatina in 1815, and Uruguay's independence from Brazil in 1828.Embaixada do Brasil em Montevideo: Relações Bilaterais 1953 See Canada–Uruguay relations
Canada has an embassy in Montevideo. Uruguay has an embassy in Ottawa, two consulates general in Montreal and Toronto, and an honorary consulate in Vancouver.See Chile–Uruguay relationsSee Colombia–Uruguay relations
Colombia has an embassy in Montevideo.Embassy of Colombia in MontevideoSee Costa Rica–Uruguay relationsSee Cuba–Uruguay relationsSee Dominican Republic–Uruguay relationsSee Ecuador–Uruguay relationsSee El Salvador–Uruguay relationsSee Guatemala–Uruguay relationsSee Honduras–Uruguay relations22 February 1831See Mexico–Uruguay relations Mexico has an embassy in Montevideo.Embassy of Mexico in Montevideo Uruguay has an embassy in Mexico City.Embassy of Uruguay in Mexico City On July 15, 2004, both nations signed a Free Trade Agreement with each other.Relación Bilateral entre México y Uruguay (in Spanish only) See Nicaragua–Uruguay relationsSee Panama–Uruguay relations See Paraguay–Uruguay relations See Peru–Uruguay relations See United States–Uruguay relationsSee Uruguay–Venezuela relations
Asia Country Formal Relations BeganNotes27 May 1992 See Armenia–Uruguay relations In May 2022, the two countries agreed to open embassies in each other's countries; Yerevan and Montevideo.11 January 1995See Azerbaijan–Uruguay relations1972 See Bangladesh–Uruguay relations1988 See China–Uruguay relationsSee India–Uruguay relationsSee Iran–Uruguay relationsSee Israel–Uruguay relations
Israel has an embassy in Montevideo.Israeli embassy in Montevideo (in Spanish only) Uruguay has an embassy in Tel Aviv and two honorary consulates in Ashdod and Haifa. Uruguay was one of the first nations to recognize Israel as independent.September 1921 See Japan–Uruguay relations Japan has an embassy in Montevideo.1945See Lebanon–Uruguay relationsSee Malaysia–Uruguay relationsIn 2006 a commercial agreement was celebrated between Pakistan and Mercosur (a trade bloc of which Uruguay is part).Pakistan-Mercosur There is a Pakistan-Uruguay Chamber of Commerce.Chamber of Commerce Uruguayan military observers took part in the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan. *When war broke out in East Pakistan in 1971, Uruguay initially hesistated to take sides. However, on August 24, 1971, Uruguay recognized Bangladesh (hithero East Pakistan) as an independent state. In 2007 Montevideo hosted the first 'International Kashmir Conference'. The Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan took part in the event, which was co-organized by the Catholic University of Uruguay.Associated Press of Pakistan. AJK PM arrives in Montevideo Associated Press of Pakistan. First Latin American Intl. Kashmir Conference Begins In Uruguay Khan met with a number of Uruguayan senators during his stay.Greater Kashmir. Pak premier meets Uruguay senatorsSee Palestine–Uruguay relations 7 October 1964 See South Korea–Uruguay relations South Korea has an embassy in Montevideo.1929See Turkey–Uruguay relations Turkey has an embassy in Montevideo. Uruguay has an embassy in Ankara and a consulate-general in Istanbul. Trade volume between the two countries was US$341.4 million in 2019 (Uruguay's exports/imports: 298.6/42.8 million USD).See Uruguay–Vietnam relations
Europe Country Formal Relations BeganNotesSee Austria–Uruguay relationsSee Belgium–Uruguay relationsSee Croatia–Uruguay relations See Czech Republic–Uruguay relations
Czech Republic is accredited to Uruguay from its embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina.Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Embassy in Argentina Uruguay is accredited to the Czech Republic from its embassy in Vienna, Austria.Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Embassy of Uruguay in Austria 21 March 1935See Finland–Uruguay relations1825 See France–Uruguay relations France has an embassy in Montevideo.French embassy in Montevideo (in French and Spanish only) 1850 See Germany–Uruguay relationsSee Greece–Uruguay relationsSee Holy See–Uruguay relationsSee Hungary–Uruguay relations1861 See Italy–Uruguay relations
Italy has an embassy in Montevideo and four honorary consulates (in Colonia, Maldonado, Melo and Paysandú).See Netherlands–Uruguay relationsSee Poland–Uruguay relationsSee Portugal–Uruguay relationsSee Romania–Uruguay relations See Russia–Uruguay relations1950Both countries have established diplomatic relations in September 1950. A number of bilateral agreements in various fields have been concluded and are in force between both countries.19 July 1870 See Spain–Uruguay relations Spain has an embassy in Montevideo.Embassy of Spain in Montevideo (in Spanish only) Uruguay has an embassy in Madrid and four consulates general (in Barcelona, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Santiago de Compostela and Valencia) and seven honorary consulates (in Bilbao, Palma de Majorca, Pamplona, Salamanca, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Seville and Vigo). See Sweden–Uruguay relations1828 See Switzerland–Uruguay relations Both countries share a long history of mutual economic relations, and they established diplomatic relations in 1828. In the twentieth century, Uruguay has looked to Switzerland as a model for government, historical and cultural ties go back to at least the nineteenth century. There are 956 people with Swiss passports residing in Uruguay in 2009. Uruguay was described as the "Switzerland of the Americas" in a 1951 New York Times article for its popularity as a haven for capital fleeing Europe at the time and its adoption of Swiss-inspired banking laws. Thomas J. Knight also wrote that "Uruguay has for most of its history been the 'Switzerland' of South America."Thomas J. Knight, Latin America comes of age (Scarecrow Press, 1979), 24.See Ukraine–Uruguay relations Ukraine is accredited to Uruguay from its embassy in Buenos Aires (Argentina). Uruguay is accredited to Ukraine from its embassy in Bucharest (Romania) and through an honorary consulate in Kyiv. 1833 See United Kingdom–Uruguay relations
Uruguay established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom in 1833. Uruguay maintains an embassy in London. The United Kingdom is accredited to Uruguay through its embassy in Montevideo.