# Establishment of diplomatic relations after independence (July – December 1975)

URL: https://allhistories.com/cape-verde/timeline/1975-establishment-of-diplomatic-relations-after-independence
Location: Praia, Cape Verde
Themes: main-event

After 5 July 1975 Cape Verde exchanged diplomatic relations at speed. Wikipedia's list shows Guinea-Bissau on 5 July, Senegal on 6 July, Portugal on 18 July (another note gives 6 July), the United States on 19 July, Cuba on 5 September, Russia on 19 September, Brazil on 5 December and France on 31 December. The pattern reflects the non-aligned stance of the first republic, which sought help from East and West. The United States provided emergency aid after independence, and the Soviet Union established relations in September, with military assistance beginning in 1977 according to Aristides Pereira's article. Portugal remained the leading source of budget support and the home of many emigrants. The result was a network of ties that served the country's need for aid. By 1977 relations had been established with Britain, India, Belgium and Spain, and by 1980 with Germany and Switzerland. The wide recognition anticipated the open foreign policy of the post-1991 democracy. At this point in the timeline (1975), Aristides Pereira (8 July 1975 – 22 March 1991) was the first President of Cape Verde, head of state of the one-party republic led by the PAIGC (from 1981 the PAICV) until the multiparty election of 1991; Francisco da Costa Gomes (30 September 1974 – 14 July 1976), President of Portugal, was head of state of the colonial power rather than of Cape Verde itself; Prime Minister Pedro Pires (8 July 1975 – 26 January 1991) led the government. Reign dates for this ruler are disputed between sources.

## Why it matters
Early diplomacy secured aid and neutrality for a poor island state in the middle of the Cold War.

Ruler at the Time: [Aristides Pereira](https://allhistories.com/cape-verde/rulers/aristides-pereira-1975)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Foreign relations of Cape Verde](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_relations_of_Cape_Verde)
- [Wikipedia — Aristides Pereira](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristides_Pereira)