The Sovereign Military Order of Malta (SMOM) is a sovereign entity maintaining diplomatic relations with 113 sovereign states (including the Holy See).[1] Additionally, it has observer status or representation at multiple intergovernmental organisations.[2] The Order has non-diplomatic official relations with five more states: France, Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Canada and the United Kingdom.[1][3][4] The Order exchanges ambassadors with the European Union and the State of Palestine.[1][2]
Some states recognize SMOM as a sovereign state, rather than a sovereign subject of international law. For example, the Republic of San Marino in 1935 recognized SMOM as a sovereign state in its own right.[5][6][7] As Italy recognizes, in addition to extraterritoriality, the exercise by SMOM of all the prerogatives of sovereignty in its headquarters, Italian sovereignty and SMOM sovereignty uniquely coexist without overlapping.[8]
As of June 2010[update], nine Schengen states did not recognize the diplomatic passports of the Order: Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Greece, France, Finland, Sweden, Iceland, and Switzerland.[9]
Bilateral relations
Diplomatic relations
# | Country | Date |
---|---|---|
— | Holy See | February 1930[10] |
1 | Romania | December 1932[11] |
2 | Spain | 19 November 1938[12] |
3 | Haiti | 1947[13] |
4 | Panama | 2 August 1948[14] |
5 | Argentina | 7 June 1951[15] |
6 | El Salvador | 1951[13] |
7 | Brazil | 17 January 1952[16] |
8 | Colombia | 28 January 1953[17] |
9 | Peru | 15 April 1953[18] |
10 | Ecuador | 29 July 1953[19] |
11 | Chile | 24 February 1956[20] |
12 | Italy | 12 June 1956[21] |
13 | Lebanon | 1956[13] |
14 | Costa Rica | 8 August 1957[22] |
15 | Nicaragua | 12 September 1957[23] |
16 | Austria | 6 December 1957[24] |
17 | Guatemala | 11 December 1957[25] |
18 | Dominican Republic | 1957[26] |
19 | Paraguay | 10 January 1958[27] |
20 | Cuba | 29 July 1959[28] |
21 | Honduras | 1959[26] |
22 | Liberia | 1959[26] |
23 | Cameroon | 4 July 1961[26] |
24 | Somalia | 28 November 1961[26] |
25 | Portugal | 19 December 1962[29] |
26 | Gabon | 1963[26] |
27 | Bolivia | 15 October 1964[30] |
28 | Philippines | 24 April 1965[31] |
29 | Senegal | 1965[26] |
30 | Uruguay | 1965[26] |
31 | Malta | 27 June 1966[32] |
32 | Venezuela | 3 August 1970[33] |
33 | Niger | 9 January 1971[34] |
34 | Ethiopia | February 1971[35] |
35 | Benin | 1972[26] |
36 | Ivory Coast | 1972[26] |
37 | Togo | 5 September 1973[36] |
38 | Burkina Faso | 1973[26] |
39 | Mauritania | 3 March 1977[37] |
40 | Mauritius | 18 July 1978[38] |
41 | Egypt | 1980[26] |
42 | Central African Republic | 1981[26] |
43 | Comoros | 1981[26] |
44 | Thailand | 4 September 1984[39] |
45 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 1984[26] |
46 | San Marino | 4 March 1986[40] |
47 | Guinea | 24 June 1986[41] |
48 | Mali | 1986[26] |
49 | Morocco | 1986[26] |
50 | Chad | 1989[26] |
51 | Czech Republic | 8 June 1990[42] |
52 | Hungary | 15 June 1990[43] |
53 | Poland | 9 July 1990[44] |
54 | Madagascar | 1990[26] |
55 | Lithuania | 9 July 1992[45] |
56 | Slovenia | 15 July 1992[46] |
57 | Russia | 7 August 1992[47] |
58 | Croatia | 22 December 1992[48] |
59 | Republic of the Congo | 1992[26] |
60 | Cambodia | 1992[26] |
61 | Sudan | 1992[26] |
62 | Slovakia | 1 January 1993[49] |
63 | Kazakhstan | 4 February 1993[50] |
64 | Seychelles | June 1994[51] |
65 | Albania | 14 July 1994[52] |
66 | Bulgaria | 11 November 1994[53] |
67 | Liechtenstein | 1994[26] |
68 | Latvia | 15 August 1995[54] |
69 | Belarus | 30 April 1996[55] |
70 | North Macedonia | 12 July 1996[55] |
71 | Equatorial Guinea | 16 July 1996[55] |
72 | Cape Verde | 1996[26] |
73 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 31 January 1997[56] |
74 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | February 1997[57] |
75 | Federated States of Micronesia | 12 November 1997[58] |
76 | Guinea-Bissau | 1997[26] |
77 | Mozambique | 1997[26] |
78 | São Tomé and Príncipe | 1997[26] |
79 | Armenia | 29 May 1998[59] |
80 | Georgia | 24 July 1998[60] |
81 | Suriname | 30 April 1999[61] |
82 | Guyana | 19 May 1999[62] |
83 | Eritrea | 1999[26] |
84 | Saint Lucia | 1999[26] |
85 | Belize | 1999[26] |
86 | Afghanistan | 1999[26] |
87 | Moldova | 5 May 2001[63] |
88 | Serbia | 11 May 2001[64] |
89 | Tajikistan | 1 June 2001[65] |
90 | Marshall Islands | 3 May 2002[66] |
91 | Kiribati | 2002[26] |
92 | Jordan | 29 June 2003[67] |
93 | Angola | 13 December 2005[68] |
94 | Montenegro | 5 September 2006[69] |
95 | East Timor | 18 September 2006[70] |
96 | Kenya | 14 September 2007[71] |
97 | Monaco | 18 October 2007[72] |
98 | Turkmenistan | 30 October 2007[71] |
99 | Ukraine | 9 February 2008[71] |
100 | Bahamas | 11 November 2008[71] |
101 | Sierra Leone | 28 November 2008[71] |
102 | Namibia | 31 March 2009[71] |
103 | Antigua and Barbuda | 20 October 2009[71] |
104 | Cyprus | 6 June 2012[73] |
105 | South Sudan | 14 November 2014[74] |
106 | Grenada | 6 November 2015[75] |
107 | Germany | 15 November 2017[76] |
108 | Nauru | 5 October 2018[77] |
109 | Estonia | 11 March 2020[78] |
110 | Greece | 2 December 2021[79] |
111 | Lesotho | 7 December 2021[80] |
112 | Gambia | 20 September 2023[81] |
113 | Burundi | 25 October 2024[82] |
Other countries
# | Name | Diplomatic relations established | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Ecuador | 29 July 1953[19] | On 10 February 2012, President Rafael Correa issued a decree to withdraw recognition and initiate the process of canceling relations,[83] starting from May.[1] Later on, the relations were restored by President Lenín Moreno on 24 September 2019.[84] |
– | European Union | 1987 | Ambassador level relations.[2] |
2 | Italy | 12 June 1956[21] | The Supreme Court of Cassation decreed on 6 June 1974 that, "the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Malta constitutes a sovereign international subject, in all terms equal, even if without territory, to a foreign state with which Italy has normal diplomatic relations, so there is no doubt, as already this Supreme Court has warned, that it has the legal treatment of foreign states".[85] As Italy recognizes, in addition to extraterritoriality, the exercise by SMOM of all the prerogatives of sovereignty in its headquarters, Italian sovereignty and SMOM sovereignty uniquely coexist without overlapping.[8] |
– | Palestinian Authority | Ambassador level relations.[1] |
Official relations
Name | Official relations established | Region | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
France | 1982 | Europe | France does not recognise the SMOM as a subject of international law.[86] |
United Kingdom | 2024 | Europe | The Sovereign Military Order of Malta established official relations with the United Kingdom on 9 October 2024.[4] |
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).[87]
Countries without established relations
Countries with which the Order currently has no established relations:
- Europe: Andorra, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Netherlands (recognises as a knightly order),[88] Norway, Sweden, Switzerland
- Africa: Algeria, Botswana, Burundi, 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),[89] 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:[2]
The Order of Malta has delegations or representations to the following organizations:[2]
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
- Accreditations and diplomatic relations of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta
References
- ^ a b c d e Sovereign Military Order of Malta. "Bilateral relations". orderofmalta.int. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
- ^ a b c d e Sovereign Military Order of Malta. "Multilateral relations". orderofmalta.int. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
- ^ Canada, Global Affairs (2015-10-19). "Canada and the Order of Malta". GAC. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
- ^ a b "The Order of Malta and the United Kingdom establish official relations and strengthen bilateral cooperation with the signing of a Strategic Memorandum of Understaning". Order of Malta. Rome. 9 October 2024. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
- ^ Cansacchi, Giorgio (1940). Il diritto di legazione attivo e passivo dell'Ordine de Malta. p. 65.
- ^ Astraudo, A. (1935). "Saint-marin et l'Ordre de Malte". La Revue Diplomatique. 7.
- ^ Cox, Noel S.B., The Continuing Question of Sovereignty and the Sovereign Military Order of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta (June 2008). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1140462 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1140462
- ^ a b Arocha, Magaly (May 1999). "La Orden de Malta y su Naturaleza Jurídica (The Order of Malta and Its Legal Nature)". Caracas, Distrito Capital, Venezuela: Analítica.com. Archived from the original on 1 August 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
- ^ "Council of the European Union - Schengen Visa Working Party - Table of travel documents". p. 31. Archived from the original on 2012-01-14. Retrieved 2022-09-10.
- ^ "Diplomatic relations of the Holy See". Retrieved 5 September 2022.
- ^ "Diplomatic Relations of Romania". Retrieved 2 July 2022.
- ^ de Béthencourt, Marcos Fernández (2019). La orden de Malta: Estatuto Jurídico internacional (in Spanish). Editorial Sanz Y Torres. p. 296.
- ^ a b c de Béthencourt, Marcos Fernández (2019). La orden de Malta: Estatuto Jurídico internacional (in Spanish). Editorial Sanz Y Torres. p. 296.
- ^ "RELACIONES DIPLOMÁTICAS DE LA REPÚBLICA DE PANAMÁ" (PDF). p. 195. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
- ^ "Biblioteca Digital de Tratados" (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 June 2023.
- ^ "Decreto nº 30403 de 17/01/1952 / PE - Poder Executivo Federal" (in Portuguese). Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ "Soberana Orden Militar y Hospitalaria de San Juan de Jerusalén, de Rodas y de Malta" (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 June 2023.
- ^ "Jefe del Estado recibe cartas credenciales de embajador de la orden de Malta" (in Spanish). 26 June 2008. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
- ^ a b "Dictamen N. 017-13-DTI-CC" (PDF) (in Spanish). 3 July 2013. p. 2. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ Memoria (in Spanish). Chile. Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores. 1956. p. 432.
- ^ a b "Giovedì - 12 Iuglio 1956: Il Presidente della Repubblica riceve in udienza" (in Italian). Retrieved 20 November 2023.
- ^ Francisco, Jorge; Carbonell, Sáenz (2013). Historia diplomática de Costa Rica (1948-1970) (in Spanish). UNA. p. 119.
- ^ Memoria (in Spanish). 1957. p. 51.
- ^ "Die beziehungen zu Österreich" (in German). Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ "Relaciones Diplomáticas de Guatemala" (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 July 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af de Béthencourt, Marcos Fernández (2019). La orden de Malta: Estatuto Jurídico internacional (in Spanish). Editorial Sanz Y Torres. pp. 302–309.
- ^ Yegros, Ricardo Scavone (2011). Representantes Diplomáticos Paraguayos : nómina de los jefes de Misiones Diplomáticas de la República del Paraguay (PDF) (in Spanish). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 October 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
- ^ "Memoria anual 2015" (PDF) (in Spanish). 2015. p. 19-25. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 May 2019.
- ^ "Ordem de Malta" (in Portuguese). Retrieved 9 July 2022.
- ^ Bolivia, 4-5 (in Spanish). 1964.
- ^ "The Republic of the Philippines and the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta celebrate 55 years of formal diplomatic relations today, April 24!". 24 April 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
- ^ The Malta Year Book. St. Michael's College Publications. 1984. p. 105.
- ^ Libro amarillo de la República de Venezuela presentado al Congreso Nacional en sus sesiones ordinarias (in Spanish). 1970. pp. xxxiv.
- ^ Bulletin de l'Afrique noire, 627–651 (in French). 1971.
Prochaine ouverture de relations diplomatiques, au niveau des ambassades, entre le Niger et l'Ordre de Malte...
- ^ Marchés tropicaux et méditerranéens, 27 (in French). 1971. p. 766.
- ^ Bulletin de l'Afrique noire, 743–762 (in French). Ediafric. 1973.
Ouverture de relations diplomatiques, au niveau des ambassades, entre le Togo et l'Ordre souverain de Malte.
- ^ Revue française d'études politiques africaines, 33–137. Société africaine d'édition. 1977. p. 14.
- ^ Mauritius Directory of the Diplomatic Corps; High Commissions, Embassies, Consulates, International Organization[s]. 1988. p. 124.
- ^ "รัฐอธิปไตยทหาร ออร์เดอร์ ออฟ มอลตา" (in Thai). Retrieved 19 November 2023.
- ^ "Rapporti bilaterali della Repubblica di San Marino" (in Italian). Retrieved 15 December 2021.
- ^ Sub-Saharan Africa Report Issues 75-81. United States. Foreign Broadcast Information Service. 1986. p. 9.
... The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Guinea has the pleasure of informing the nation and the world that the Republic of Guinea and the Sovereign Order of Malta ... have decided to establish diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level as of 24 June 1986.
- ^ Petruf, Pavol. Československá zahraničná politika 1945 – 1992 (in Slovak). pp. 99–119.
- ^ Daily Report: East Europe. Vol. 12. 1992. p. 397.
- ^ "Odpowiedź na zapytanie w sprawie stanu stosunków dyplomatycznych utrzymywanych przez Rzeczpospolitą Polską z Suwerennym Zakonem Rycerskim Szpitalników im. Jana Jerozolimskiego, zwanym Zakonem Maltańskim". Orka2.sejm.gov.pl. Retrieved 2017-01-11.
- ^ "List of countries with which Lithuania has established diplomatic relations". Archived from the original on 10 January 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
- ^ Đogić, Mojca Pristavec (September 2016). "Priznanja samostojne Slovenije" (PDF) (in Slovenian). Retrieved 11 July 2023.
- ^ "Мальтийские Игры". Hist.ru. Retrieved 2017-01-11.
- ^ "MVPEI". Archived from the original on 2010-08-13. Retrieved 2011-12-18.
- ^ "Štáty a teritóriá" (in Slovak). Retrieved 26 May 2023.
- ^ "Страны, установившие дипломатические отношения с Республикой Казахстан" (in Russian). Archived from the original on 20 February 2020. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
- ^ "Order of Malta presents credentials". 4 June 2019. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
- ^ "Katalogu i Dokumentacionit i Vitit 1994" (PDF) (in Albanian). p. 42. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
- ^ "Twenty Years of Diplomatic Relations: the Grand Master Receives the Vice President of Bulgaria". 11 November 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
- ^ "Dates of establishment and renewal of diplomatic relations". mfa.gov.lv. 1 July 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
- ^ a b c de Béthencourt, Marcos Fernández (2019). La orden de Malta: Estatuto Jurídico internacional (in Spanish). Editorial Sanz Y Torres. p. 308.
- ^ "ODRŽAN XXIX. MEĐUNARODNI LJETNI KAMP ZA HENDIKEPIRANE MLADE OSOBE" (in Bosnian). 5 October 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
- ^ "Diplomatic Relations Register (4)". 24 January 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
- ^ "FSM Diplomatic Relations List". Fsmgov.org. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
- ^ "Sovereign Military Order of Malta". Retrieved 20 November 2023.
- ^ "Bilateral relations". Archived from the original on 19 June 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
- ^ "Lijst van Diplomatieke Betrekkingen en Visum-afschaffingsovereenkomsten" (PDF). gov.sr (in Dutch). Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
- ^ "Diplomatic relations". Archived from the original on 16 February 2019. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
- ^ Primul Ambasador al Republicii Moldova pe lângă Ordinul Suveran Militar de Malta – decorat cu o înaltă distincție (foto) (in Romanian).
- ^ "Bilateral cooperation". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
- ^ "LIST OF STATES WITH WHICH THE REPUBLIC OF TAJIKISTAN ESTABLISHED DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS" (PDF). Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ^ "LISTING OF ALL COUNTRIES WHICH HAVE ESTABLISHED DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH THE REPUBLIC OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS (As of 13 February 2019)". Archived from the original on 18 July 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
- ^ "Full diplomatic relations established between the Order of Malta and Jordan". 2 July 2003. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
- ^ "Relations diplomatiques entre l'Ordre de Malte et l'Angola" (in French). 15 December 2005. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
- ^ "Tabela priznanja i uspostavljanja diplomatskih odnosa". Montenegro Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration. Archived from the original on 13 February 2020. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ "The Order of Malta establishes diplomatic relations with Timor-Leste". 21 September 2006. Archived from the original on 25 December 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Activity report 2010" (PDF). April 2010. p. 90. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
- ^ "Rapport de Politique Extérieure 2007" (in French). p. 44. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
- ^ Sovereign Military Order of Malta (6 June 2012). "Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Cyprus and the Sovereign Order of Malta formally established". orderofmalta.int. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
- ^ Sovereign Military Order of Malta (17 November 2014). "The Order of Malta strengthens its action in South Sudan three years after the birth of the nation". orderofmalta.int. Retrieved 2017-01-11.
- ^ Sovereign Military Order of Malta (12 November 2015). "Establishment of diplomatic relations with Grenada". orderofmalta.int. Retrieved 2017-01-11.
- ^ Sovereign Military Order of Malta (15 November 2017). "Official Visit of the German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, for the opening of diplomatic relations between Germany and the Order of Malta". orderofmalta.int. Retrieved 2017-11-15.
- ^ "Diplomatic relations between the Sovereign Order of Malta and the Republic of Nauru". orderofmalta.int. 11 October 2018.
- ^ Sovereign Military Order of Malta (11 March 2020). "Estonia and Sovereign Order of Malta establish diplomatic relations".
- ^ Sovereign Military Order of Malta (4 December 2021). "Sovereign Order of Malta announces opening of diplomatic relations with Hellenic Republic". orderofmalta.int. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
- ^ "Order of Malta's mission to the UN in New York announces opening of diplomatic ties with the Kingdom of Lesotho". 7 December 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
- ^ "The Order of Malta announces the opening of diplomatic relations with the Republic of The Gambia". Sovereign Order of Malta. 21 September 2023.
- ^ "Today, October 25, 2024, marks a historic moment with the signing of the Protocol on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Republic of Burundi and the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes, and of Malta". 25 October 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ "La Orden Soberana de Malta". Elcomercio.com. Retrieved 2017-01-11.
- ^ Sovereign Military Order of Malta (24 September 2019). "A renewed friendship between Ecuador and the Order of Malta". orderofmalta.int.
- ^ "Corte Suprema di Cassazione; Sezioni unite civili; sentenza 6 giugno 1974, n. 1653" (PDF). Il Foro Italiano. 98 (6): 1471/1472–1475/1476. June 1975. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 May 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
- ^ "The Sovereignty of the Order of Malta". Heraldica.org. Retrieved 2017-01-11.
- ^ "Donation to the Holy Family Hospital from the Republic of China (Taiwan)". orderofmalta.int. Retrieved 2022-02-09.
- ^ The 10 October 2017 decree of the Chancellor of the Dutch Orders lists the SMOM as one of three "Recognised (knightly) orders" (Erkende (ridderlijke) orden) and authorises it members to wear their decorations in the Netherlands.
- ^ Sovereign Military Order of Malta. "Associate Countries". orderofmalta.int. Archived from the original on 2012-03-09. Retrieved 2017-01-11.