The Basic Treaty (German: Grundlagenvertrag) is the shorthand name for the Treaty concerning the basis of relations between the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic (German: Vertrag über die Grundlagen der Beziehungen zwischen der Bundesrepublik Deutschland und der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik).

After the entry into force of the Four-Power Agreement from 1971, the two German states began negotiations over a Basic Treaty.

As part of the Ostpolitik of Chancellor Willy Brandt, the treaty was signed on 21 December 1972 in East Berlin.

The signing of the treaty in December 1972[1] paved the way for both German states to be recognised by the international community.

[3] West Germany sent its first permanent representative in February 1974, but formal diplomatic relations were never established until German reunification (in October 1990).