Foreign Relations of Zimbabwe - Europe

Europe

Country Formal Relations Began Notes
Austria
  • Austria has an embassy in Harare
  • Zimbabwe has an embassy in Vienna
Belgium
  • Zimbabwe has an embassy in Brussels
Bulgaria
  • Bulgaria has an embassy in Harare
Cyprus
  • Cyprus has an accredited mission in Nairobi
Denmark
  • Zimbabwe is represented in Denmark, through its embassy in Stockholm, Sweden.
  • Denmark is represented in Zimbabwe, through its embassy in Lusaka, Zambia.
Finland
  • Finland has an accredited mission in Maputo
France
  • France has a mission in Harare
  • Zimbabwe has an embassy in Paris

French President Jacques Chirac angered the governments of the United Kingdom and the United States when in February 2003 he invited President Mugabe to a Franco-African conference on Africa held in France. Mugabe said he felt "at home" in Paris and "President Chirac insisted that we attend. He held firm to his principles. We need leaders of his stature." Chirac later emphasized that he had not kissed Mugabe on his cheeks when the conference began. The UK had previously tried to get the European Union to deny Mugabe the right to come to Europe, citing human rights abuses in Zimbabwe.

Germany
  • Germany has an embassy in Harare
  • Zimbabwe has an embassy in Berlin
Greece See Greek-Zimbabwean relations
  • Greece has an embassy in Harare
Holy See
  • Holy See has an embassy in Harare
Hungary
  • Hungary has an accredited mission in Pretoria
Ireland
  • Ireland has an accredited mission in Pretoria
Italy
  • Italy has an embassy in Harare
  • Zimbabwe has an embassy in Rome
Netherlands
  • Netherlands has an embassy in Harare
Norway
  • Norway has an embassy in Harare
Poland
  • Poland has an embassy in Harare
Portugal
  • Portugal has an embassy in Harare
  • Zimbabwe has a consulate general in Lisbon
Romania
  • Romania has an embassy in Harare
Russia 1981-02-18 See Russia–Zimbabwe relations
  • Russia has a mission in Harare
  • Zimbabwe has an embassy in Moscow

Russia-Zimbabwe relations date back to January 1979, during the Rhodesian Bush War. The Soviet Union supported Joshua Nkomo's Zimbabwe African People's Union, and supplied them with arms; Robert Mugabe's attempts to gain Soviet support for his Zimbabwe African National Union were rebuffed, leading him to enter into relations with Soviet rival Beijing. After the end of the white regime in Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe had strengthened his relations with both Beijing and Moscow as a result of intense western pressure on him. Russia maintains strong economic and political ties with Zimbabwe and both countries had vetoed the UN resolution imposing UN sanctions on Zimbabwe which was proposed by both the US and the UK on 12 July 2008.

Serbia
  • Serbia has an accredited mission in Pretoria
  • Zimbabwe has an embassy in Belgrade
Slovakia
  • Slovakia has an accredited mission in Pretoria
Spain
  • Spain has an embassy in Harare
Sweden
  • Sweden has an embassy in Harare
  • Zimbabwe has an embassy in Stockholm
Switzerland
  • Switzerland has an embassy in Harare
Turkey
  • Turkey has an accredited mission in Nairobi
Ukraine
  • Ukraine has an accredited mission in Pretoria
United Kingdom
  • United Kingdom has an embassy in Harare
  • Zimbabwe has an embassy in London

Historically, relations between Zimbabwe and the UK were close. However in the last eight years, relations between Zimbabwe and the UK have been typically cold, with Robert Mugabe frequently accusing the former colonial power of sabotage; ruining the country and attempting to invade the country. In turn, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown refused to attend an African/European summit while Mugabe was invited, citing Zimbabwe's poor human rights record. The UK also did not attend an address by President Mugabe at the 2008 UN Food Summit, stating that his presence there was "obscene".

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