Germany (Prussia) and Uruguay have enjoyed uninterrupted bilateral relations for more than 160 years. Uruguay is home to over 10,000 Germans. Montevideo boasts a large German school, a Protestant church community, a Goethe-Institut, an active German-Uruguayan Chamber of Industry and Commerce and various German clubs. Political relations are good, characterised by shared values particularly with regard to human rights and rules-based trade. On 1 and 2 March 2025, Federal President Steinmeier visited the country on the occasion of President Orsi’s assumption of office.

In 2024, Uruguay imported goods from Germany to the tune of 375 million euro, especially pharmaceutical products, machinery, electronic goods, vehicles and chemical products. During the same period of time Germany imported a roughly equivalent amount of goods from Uruguay, primarily agricultural and forestry products. Germany played a key role in the successful conversion of Uruguay’s energy matrix to renewable energy sources, which nowadays provide almost 100% of the country’s electricity. Now, cooperation via the energy partnership is being intensified further, particularly in the area of green hydrogen. As a result of generous tax regulations in so-called free-trade zones and for service providers active in the region, several German enterprises have invested in Uruguay. An investment promotion agreement has been in place since 1990.

Uruguay and Germany are strongly committed to the EU‑Mercosur Trade Agreement, negotiations on which were successfully concluded at the end of 2024. Parts of this Agreement are being provisionally applied since 1 May 2026.

Germany and Uruguay continue to cooperate closely in the areas of agriculture and forestry, as well as in the sphere of dual vocational training.

The Goethe-Institut reports a rise in demand for German courses. The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung both have offices in Montevideo. The representative of the German Academic Exchange Service promotes academic exchange. The German School in Montevideo was founded in 1857 and has borne the “Excellent German School Abroad” quality seal since 2019.