Foreign relations of Mauritius

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Mauritius
This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Mauritius

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Mauritius has strong and friendly relations with the West, as well as with India and the countries of southern and eastern Africa. It is a member of the World Trade Organization, the Commonwealth of Nations, La Francophonie, the African Union, the Southern Africa Development Community, the Indian Ocean Commission, COMESA, and the recently formed Indian Ocean Rim Association.

Trade, commitment to democracy, and the country's small size are driving forces behind Mauritian foreign policy. The country's political heritage and dependence on Western markets have led to close ties with the European Union and its member states, particularly the United Kingdom and France, which exercises sovereignty over neighboring Reunion Island. France has remained one of its biggest trading partners; in addition, the two countries share close cultural ties in language, media and literature. Mautitius is a member state of La Francophonie, an organization of French speaking countries.

Considered part of Africa geographically, Mauritius has friendly relations with other African states in the region, particularly South Africa, by far its largest continental trading partner. Mauritian investors are gradually entering African markets, notably Madagascar and Mozambique. Mauritius coordinates much of its foreign policy with the Southern Africa Development Community and the Organization of African Unity.

Relations with France and India are strong for both historical and commercial reasons. Foreign embassies in Mauritius include Australia, the United Kingdom, People's Republic of China, Egypt, France, India, Madagascar, Pakistan, Russia, and the United States.

Mauritius is also a member of the International Criminal Court with a Bilateral Immunity Agreement of protection for the US-military (as covered under Article 98).

Disputes - international: claims the entire Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean; claims the whole French-administered Tromelin Island, Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, and Juan de Nova Island Illicit drugs: minor consumer and transshipment point for heroin from South Asia; small amounts of cannabis produced and consumed locally

[edit] See also

v • d • e Republic of Mauritius topics
Districts	Black River · Flacq · Grand Port · Moka · Pamplemousses · Plaines Wilhems · Port Louis · Rivière du Rempart · Savanne
Dependencies and territories	Agalega Islands · Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint Brandon) · Rodrigues Soudan Banks · Nazareth Bank · Saya de Malha Bank
Territorial claims	Chagos Archipelago · Tromelin
Politics and government	National Assembly · Political parties · Elections
Economy related	Currency · Companies · Communications · Foreign relations · Transport · Educational sector
People and culture	Creole · Franco-Mauritian · Indo-Mauritian · Sino-Mauritian Prominent Mauritians Hinduism in Mauritius · Islam in Mauritius · Music of Mauritius
Other	History · Military · Geography