Belgium–France relations

Belgium and France maintain interstate relations, as diplomatic relations were established following Belgium’s independence in 1830. The two countries are close allies and share notable cultural affinities. Both are founding members of NATO, the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, and the European Union as well as the two former African colonies that shaped the French Congo (French Equatorial Africa) of the modern Republic of the Congo in Brazzaville and the Belgian Congo of the modern Democratic Republic of the Congo in Léopoldville (Kinshasa). French serves as an official language of both nations in Europe especially Belgian French.