Foreign relations of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta

The Sovereign Military Order of Malta (SMOM) is a sovereign entity maintaining diplomatic relations with 115 sovereign states (including the Holy See). Additionally, it has observer status or representation at multiple intergovernmental organisations. The Order has non-diplomatic official relations with six more states: France, Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Canada and the United Kingdom. The Order exchanges ambassadors with the European Union and the State of Palestine.

Bilateral relations

Diplomatic relations

The Sovereign Military Order of Malta maintains diplomatic relations with 114 United Nations members and the Holy See. It has moreover signed Declarations of Intent with Saint Kitts and Nevis (September 2025) Vanuatu (September 2025) and Palau (January 2026) in preparation for establishing diplomatic relations.

Other countries

Official relations

Unofficial relations

The Order of Malta has unofficial relations with Taiwan through the Embassy of the Republic of China to the Holy See in Rome (Italy).

Countries without established relations

Countries with which the Order currently has no established relations:

• Europe: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Netherlands (recognises as a knightly order), Norway, Sweden, Switzerland
• Africa: Algeria, Botswana, Djibouti, Eswatini, Ghana, Libya, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
• Asia: Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Indonesia, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia (accepts its stamps), Myanmar, Nepal, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, People's Republic of China, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Syria, Taiwan, Turkey, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen
• Oceania: Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu
• The Americas: Barbados, Dominica, Jamaica, Mexico, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago, United States of America

Intergovernmental organizations

The Order of Malta has observer status at the following organizations:

The Order of Malta has delegations or representations to the following organizations:

See also

• List of diplomatic missions of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta
• List of diplomatic missions to the Sovereign Military Order of Malta
• List of permanent observers of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta to the United Nations

Notes

References