Liechtenstein's foreign economic policy has been dominated by its customs union with Switzerland (and with Austria-Hungary until World War I). This union also led to its independent membership in the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) in 1991. Unlike Switzerland however (where citizens rejected membership in a referendum), Liechtenstein is part of the European Economic Area.

Liechtenstein was admitted to the United Nations in 1990. It is not a member of most specialized agencies of the United Nations, with the exceptions of the International Telecommunication Union, the Universal Postal Union and the World Intellectual Property Organization.

Liechtenstein has resorted two times to international dispute settlement by the International Court of Justice, in the Nottebohm (Liechtenstein v. Guatemala) case against Guatemala in the 1950s and in a case concerning art property of the Liechtenstein family against Germany in 2005. It lost in both cases.

Liechtenstein maintains resident embassies in Austria, Belgium, Germany, the Holy See, Switzerland and the United States, along with a number of missions to international organisations. Under a 1919 agreement between Liechtenstein and Switzerland, ambassadors of Switzerland are authorised to represent Liechtenstein in countries and in diplomatic situations unless Liechtenstein opts to send its own ambassador.Jorri Duursma, "Microstates: The Principality of Liechtenstein" in Christin Ingebritsen et al. (2006). Small States in International Relations. (University of Washington Press, Seattle) p. 89 at p. 124. Liechtenstein has diplomatic relations with 133 UN countries.

Relations with individual countries

International dispute with Czechoslovakia, the Czech Republic and Slovakia

The country has an international dispute with the Czech Republic and Slovakia concerning the estates of its princely family in those countries. After World War II, Czechoslovakia, as it then was, acting to seize what it considered to be German possessions, expropriated the entirety of the Liechtenstein dynasty's hereditary lands and possessions in the Czech regions of Bohemia, Moravia, and Silesia. The expropriations (which were the subject of an unsuccessful court case brought by Liechtenstein in the German courts and the International Court of Justice) included over (which is ten times the size of Liechtenstein) of agricultural and forest land mostly in Moravia, also including several family castles and palaces. An offer from the Czech Republic to return the palaces and castles (without the surrounding land) was rejected by Liechtenstein.

Liechtenstein recognised and established diplomatic relations with the Czech Republic on 13 July 2009 and with Slovakia on 9 December 2009. Liechtenstein's ruling prince, Hans-Adam II, has announced that the principality will take no further legal action to recover the appropriated assets.

In February 2020, the Czech Constitutional court in Brno rejected a case made by Liechtenstein to get the Czech government to change their classification of the Liechtenstein dynasty as German under the Beneš Decrees. On 19 August 2020, an inter-state application under the European Convention on Human Rights was made by Liechtenstein to the European Court of Human Rights against the Czech Republic.

Diplomatic relations List of countries which Liechtenstein maintains diplomatic relations with: #CountryDate1234—56789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142—4344454647484950515253545556575859606162636465666768697071727374757677787980818283848586878889909192939495969798—99100101102103104105106107108109110111112113114115116117118119120121122123124125126127128129130131132133134135136137138139140141142Unknown

Bilateral relations

Americas Country Formal relations began on Notes On 13 December 2023, Liechtenstein foreign minister Dominique Hasler met her Mexican counterpart Alicia Bárcena Ibarra in the first official Liechtenstein visit to Mexico.See Liechtenstein–United States relations

Asia Country Formal relations began on NotesSee Hong Kong–Liechtenstein relations Signed a tax treaty in 2010.Double Taxation Relief and Exchange of Information Arrangements > All Agreement (on country / territory basis) > Liechtenstein, Hong Kong Inland Revenue Department, retrieved on 16 October 2017 Have a free trade agreement.Hong Kong signs free-trade pact with European states , Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office New York, May-June 2011, retrieved on 16 October 2017See India–Liechtenstein relationsSee Japan–Liechtenstein relations The two countries signed a tax treaty in 2012. Both countries established diplomatic relations on March 02, 1993. The two states signed a FTA on 15 December 2005. Turkey established diplomatic relations with Liechtenstein only in 1992 because SwitzerlandSully, Melanie A. A Contemporary History of Austria, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. London: Routledge, 1990. had taken responsibility for Liechtenstein's diplomatic relations until early 1990s.Weidenholzer, Josef. Der liechtensteinische Weg: Einsichten und Aussichten. Vienna: Zimmermann und Karrer, 1999. Turkey is accredited to Liechtenstein from its embassy in Bern, Switzerland and maintains an honorary consulate in Vaduz.

Europe Country Formal relations began on NotesSee Czech Republic–Liechtenstein relations The two countries have a long-running dispute regarding the seizure of Liechtenstein assets and properties by the Beneš decrees in 1945. In 2003, the Czech Republic refused to recognize Liechtenstein as having become a sovereign state in 1806. The two countries signed a correspondence treaty in 2009.See France–Liechtenstein relations The two countries signed a tax information exchange agreement.See Germany–Liechtenstein relations See Liechtenstein–Russia relationsSee Liechtenstein–Switzerland relations The two countries have been in a customs union since 1924.

Liechtenstein has an embassy in Bern. Switzerland is accredited to Liechtenstein from its Federal Department of Foreign Affairs in Bern and maintains an honorary consulate in Vaduz.See Liechtenstein–Ukraine relations The two countries have a free trade agreement.See Liechtenstein–United Kingdom relations

The UK established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 6 February 1992. The United Kingdom is not accredited to Liechtenstein through an embassy; the UK develops relations through its embassy in Bern, Switzerland.

Both countries share common membership of the Council of Europe, European Court of Human Rights, the International Criminal Court, OSCE, the United Nations, and the World Trade Organization. Bilaterally the two countries have a Double Taxation Convention, a Free Trade Agreement, a Separation Agreement, a Social Security Coordination Convention, and a Trade Agreement.

Membership in international organizations

Liechtenstein is a member of the following international organizations:

United Nations Council of Europe European Bank for Reconstruction and Development United Nations Economic Commission for Europe European Economic Area European Free Trade Association International Atomic Energy Agency International Criminal Court International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Intelsat Interpol International Olympic Committee International Telecommunication Union Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Permanent Court of Arbitration United Nations Conference on Trade and Development Universal Postal Union World Confederation of Labour World Intellectual Property Organization World Trade Organization

Liechtenstein was never a member of the League of Nations. Its application to join that international organisation was refused in 1920 due to its small size.Participation of the Former Yugoslav States in the UN and multilateral Treaties While included in the Schengen Area, Liechtenstein is not a member of the European Union.

See also Liechtenstein–European Union relations List of ambassadors to Liechtenstein List of diplomatic missions in Liechtenstein List of diplomatic missions of Liechtenstein Visa requirements for Liechtenstein citizens References