The United States established full diplomatic relations with the Republic of Cape Verde shortly after Cape Verde achieved independence on July 5, 1975. It has had a resident Embassy in Praia since 1978.

The U.S. maintains an Embassy in Cape Verde to protect U.S. national interests, support democracy and human rights, build close and constructive relations, provide consular services and humanitarian assistance, and increase bilateral trade and people-to-people contacts.

One of the more unique aspects of our relations with Cape Verde is the consular section. The population of Cape Verdean-Americans residing in the U.S. is almost equal to the population of Cape Verde itself. These family ties, remittances, visits and emigration have an important impact on the work that the Embassy does.