Botswana has put a premium on economic and political integration in southern Africa. It has sought to make the Southern African Development Community SADC a working vehicle for economic development, and it has promoted efforts to make the region self-policing in terms of preventive diplomacy, conflict resolution, and good governance.
See BotswanaβChina relations. BotswanaβNamibia relations are friendly, with the two neighbouring countries cooperating on economic development. Botswana gained independence from Britain in September Botswana and the Soviet Union initiated diplomatic relations on 6 March Despite its pro-Western orientation, Botswana participated in the Summer Olympics.
The present-day relations between the two countries are described as friendly and long standing. In March, the two countries also celebrated the 35th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations. According to the minister of Foreign Affairs, Russia was one of the first countries to establish full diplomatic relations with Botswana. Trade and economic cooperation between Russia and Botswana are stipulated by the Trade Agreement of and the Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation of Russia and Botswana have had fruitful cooperation in a variety of fields, particularly in human resource development.
And Russia is still offering more scholarship in key sectors such as health, which is currently experiencing a critical shortage of manpower. Botswana also is one of the countries where Russian citizens do not require a visa. See BotswanaβSouth Africa relations. Botswana established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 30 September The UK governed Botswana from to , when it achieved full independence. The United States considers Botswana an advocate of and a model for stability in Africa and has been a major partner in Botswana's development since its independence.
The U. Similarly, the USAID phased out a long-standing bilateral partnership with Botswana in , after successful programs emphasizing education, training, entrepreneurship , environmental management, and reproductive health. Under the U. The academy, jointly financed, managed and staffed by the two nations, provides training to police and government officials from across the Sub-Saharan region.
