São Tomé and Príncipe, admitted to UN membership on 16 September 1975, takes part in ECA, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, ILO, IMF, ITU, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, and WMO. The nation is also a member of the African Development Bank, G-77, and AU. A signatory of the Lomé Convention, the nation has signed the Law of the Sea and applied for membership in the WTO.
Relations with African oil producers Nigeria and Angola and with major importers such as the United States are expected to solidify given São Tomé's proven petroleum reserves.