Foreign relations of Georgia

Georgia

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Georgia

Constitution Constitution Constitutional court Human rights Executive President Mikheil Saakashvili Prime Minister Nikoloz Gilauri Cabinet of Ministers Legislature Parliament Speaker David Bakradze Judiciary Supreme court Divisions Divisions Regions Districts Election Elections in Georgia Parliamentary: 2003 - 2004 - 2008 Presidential: 2004 - 2008 Political parties Foreign relations Foreign relations Georgia and NATO Georgia and the EU Georgia and Russia See also Rose Revolution UNOMIG Politics of Abkhazia Politics of South Ossetia

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Georgia's location, nestled between the Black Sea, Russia, and Turkey, gives it strategic importance far beyond its size. It is developing as the gateway from the Black Sea to the Caucasus and the larger Caspian region, but also serves as a buffer between Russia and Turkey. Georgia has a long and close relationship with Russia, but it is reaching out to its other neighbors and looking to the West in search of alternatives and opportunities. It signed a partnership and cooperation agreement with the European Union, participates in the Partnership for Peace, and encourages foreign investment. France, Germany, the United Kingdom,and the United States all have embassies in Tbilisi.

Georgia is a member of the United Nations, the Council of Europe, and the OSCE

Because of its strategic location it is in both the Russian and American spheres of influence.

Disputes - international: Georgia relationships with Russia are at it lowest point in modern history due to Georgian-Russian espionage controversy and due to the 2008 South Ossetia war, Georgia broke off diplomatic relations with Russia and has left the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Relations by country

Neighboring countries

Country	Formal Relations Began	Notes
Armenia	01992-07-17 17 July 1992	See Armenia–Georgia relations There are nearly 248,929 Armenians in Georgia, among them 90,373 living in Javakheti and 73,229 in Tbilisi. The Georgian minority in Armenia is less sizable. Armenia and Georgia have a long history of cultural and political relations. The interaction peaked in the Middle Ages when both nations engaged in prolific cultural dialogue and allied themselves against the neighboring Muslim empires. There were frequent intermarriages between Armenian and Georgian the royal and noble families and both ethnicities intermingled in several border areas.
Azerbaijan	01992-11-18 18 November 1992	See Azerbaijan–Georgia relations There are 284,761 Azeris in Georgia. They are the largest minority of Georgia and comprise 6.5% of Georgia's population mostly in Kvemo Kartli, Kakheti, Shida Kartli and Mtskheta-Mtianeti. There is also a large Azeri community in the capital city of Tbilisi. The Georgian minority in Azerbaijan is less sizable. Azerbaijan has an embassy in Tbilisi. Georgia has an embassy in Baku. Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC).
Turkey	01992-05-21 21 May 1992	See Georgia–Turkey relations Georgia has an embassy in Ankara and two consulates–general in Istanbul and Trabzon. Turkey has an embassy in Tbilisi and a consulate–general in Batumi. Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the Black Sea Naval Co-operation Task Group (BLACKSEAFOR), the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) and the World Trade Organization (WTO). Also Turkey is a member of NATO while Georgia is a candidate. Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Georgia

Europe

Country	Formal Relations Began	Notes
Austria	01993-01-18 18 January 1993	Austria is represented in Georgia through a non resident ambassador based in Vienna, and through an honorary consulate in Tbilissi. Georgia has an embassy in Vienna and an honorary consulate in Graz. Austrian Foreign Ministry: list of bilateral treaties with Georgia (in German only) Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Austria
Belarus		See Foreign relations of Belarus
Bulgaria	01992-06-05 5 June 1992	See Bulgaria–Georgia relations Bulgaria recognized the independence of Georgie on January 15, 1992. Bulgaria has an embassy in Tbilissi. Georgia has an embassy in Sofia. Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the relations with Bulgaria
Cyprus	01993-07-09 9 July 1993	See Foreign relations of Cyprus
Czech Republic	01993-01-01 1 January 1993	See Foreign relations of the Czech Republic
Denmark	01992-07-01 1 July 1992	See Denmark–Georgia relations
Estonia	01992-06-16 16 June 1992	See Foreign relations of Estonia
Finland	01992-07-08 8 July 1992	See Foreign relations of Finland
France	01992-08-21 21 August 1992	See Foreign relations of France
Germany	01992-04-13 13 April 1992	Germany recognized the independence of Georgia on March 22, 1992. Georgia has an embassy in Berlin. Germany has an embassy in Tbilissi. Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Germany German Federal Foreign Office about relations with Georgia
Hungary	01992-05-14 14 May 1992	Georgia has an embassy in Budapest. Hungary has an embassy and an honorary consulate in Tbilissi. Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the relation with Hungary
Italy	01992-05-11 11 May 1992	See Georgia–Italy relations Georgia has an embassy in Rome. Italy has an embassy in Tbilissi. Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe.
Latvia	01993-03-11 11 March 1993	Georgia has an embassy in Riga. Latvia has an embassy and an honorary consulate in Tbilisi. Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Latvia Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Georgia
Lithuania	01994-09-16 16 September 1994	Georgia has an embassy in Vilnius. Lithuania has an embassy in Tbilissi. Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Lithuania Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign affairs: list of bilateral treaties with Poland (in Lithuanian only)
Malta	01993-02-01 1 February 1993	See Georgia–Malta relations
Moldova	01992-06-25 25 June 1992	Georgia is represented in Moldova through its embassy in Bucharest (Romania). Moldova is represented in Georgia through its embassy in Baku (Azerbaijan). Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Moldova
Netherlands	01992-04-21 21 April 1992	Georgia has an embassy in The Hague. Netherlands has an embassy in Tbilisi.
Poland	01992-04-28 28 April 1992	See Georgia–Poland relations Georgia has an embassy in Warsaw. Poland has an embassy in Tbilisi.
Romania	01992-06-25 25 June 1992	Georgia has an embassy in Bucharest and Romania has an embassy in Tbilissi. Both countries are full members of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, the Black Sea Forum for Partnership and Dialogue, and the Community of Democratic Choice. Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the relations with Romania
Serbia	01995-06-26 26 June 1995	Georgia does not have diplomatic representation in Serbia. Georgians are represented through Athens. Serbia is represented in Georgia through its embassy in Moscow (Russia). Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Serbia
Sweden	01992-09-19 19 September 1992	Georgia has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in Tbilisi. After the war, when Abkhazia and South Ossetia broke away from Georgia, Georgia and Sweden both did not recognize the independence of both states. There were protests near the Russian embassy in Stockholm, as the war was going on August 12, 2008. The protests was held by a group of Georgians and Swedes.
Switzerland	01992-06-10 10 June 1992	Switzerland maintained a consulate in Tbilisi between 1883 and 1922. Switzerland recognized Georgia as an independent state on December 23, 1991. In 1996, Switzerland opened a cooperation office in Tbilisi. Since June 2001, Switzerland has an embassy in Tbilissi. In 1997, Georgia’s Permanent Mission to the international organizations in Geneva was also accredited in Bern. Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the relations with Switzerland Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs about the relations with Georgia
Ukraine	01992-07-22 22 July 1992	See Georgia–Ukraine relations Relations between Georgia and Ukraine and between the Georgian and Ukrainian people in particular last from the Middle Ages.
United Kingdom	01992-04-27 27 April 1992	The United Kingdom has an embassy in Tbilissi. Georgia has an embassy in London. British Foreign and Commonwealth Office about the relations with Georgia Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the relations with the United Kingdom

Asia

Country	Formal Relations Began	Notes¨
Brunei	02010-03-01 1 March 2010
India	01992-09-28 28 September 1992	Georgia has an honorary consulate in New Delhi. India is represented in Georgia through its embassy in Yerevan (Armenia) and an honorary consulate in Tbilissi. Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with India
Iran	01992-05-15 15 May 1992	See Persia-Georgia relations, Georgia–Iran relations Persia and Georgia have had relations for thousands of years.
Israel	01992-06-01 1 June 1992	See Georgia–Israel relations Georgia has an embassy in Tel Aviv. Israel has an embassy in Tbilissi. There are 13,000 Jews living in Georgia.
Japan	01992-08-03 3 August 1992	See Georgia–Japan relations Since November 2006, Georgia has maintained an embassy in Tokyo. Japan is presently represented in Georgia through its embassy in Baku, (Azerbaijan). Japan however made plans to open an embassy in Tbilisi. Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the relations with Japan Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the relations with Georgia
Kazakhstan	01992-07-24 24 July 1992	Georgia has an embassy in Astana and an honorary consulate in Almaty. Kazakhstan has an embassy in Tbilissi. Both countries are full members of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the relation with Kazakhstan Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the relation with Georgia
Malaysia	01993-05-07 7 May 1993	Georgia is represented in Malaysia through its embassy in Beijing (China). Malaysia is represented in Georgia through its embassy in Kiev (Ukraine). Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Malaysia
Maldives	02010-03 March 2010
People's Republic of China	01992-06-09 9 June 1992	People's Republic of China recognized the independence of Georgia on December 27, 1991. China has an embassy in Tbilisi. Georgia has an embassy in Beijing. Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the relations with Georgia Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the relations with China

Rest of world

Country	Formal Relations Began	Notes
Antigua and Barbuda	02011-04-11 11 April 2011	Antigua and Barbuda and Georgia established diplomatic relations on 11 April 2011, and signed a joint protocol.
Bahamas	02011-05-13 13 May 2011
Botswana	02010-01-15 15 January 2010	See Foreign relations of Botswana
Canada	01992-07-23 23 July 1992	See Foreign relations of Canada
Central African Republic	02010-12-23 23 December 2010
Comoros	02010-03-26 26 March 2010
Democratic Republic of the Congo	02011-01-14 14 January 2011
Dominica	02010-12 December 2010
Dominican Republic	02010-01-22 22 January 2010
Egypt	01992-05-11 11 May 1992	Egypt is represented in Georgia through its embassy in Yerevan (Armenia). Georgia has an embassy in Cairo. Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the relation with Egypt Georgian foreign minister visits Egypt
Equatorial Guinea	02010-06-23 23 June 2010
Fiji	02010-03-29 29 March 2010
Gambia	02010-04-21 21 April 2010
Guinea-Bissau	02011-03-09 9 March 2011
Honduras	02011-03-09 9 March 2011
Mauritius	02011-03-05 5 March 2011
Federated States of Micronesia	02011-08-12 12 August 2011
Paraguay	02010-03-09 9 March 2010
Rwanda	02011-03 March 2011
Saint Lucia	02010-02 February 2010
Solomon Islands	02011-03-12 12 March 2011
Somalia	02011-02-26 26 February 2011
South Africa		South Africa is represented in Georgia through its embassy in Kiev (Ukraine). Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the relations with South Africa South African Department of Foreign Affairs about the relations with Georgia
Suriname	02011-05-28 28 May 2011
United States	01992-04-23 23 April 1992	See Georgia – United States relations On January 9, 2009, the U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Georgian Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze signed a Charter on Strategic Partnership, a nonbinding document outlining areas of cooperation and reiterating the U.S. support for Georgia's territorial integrity and to Georgia's NATO membership.

No diplomatic relations

Country	Formal Relations	Notes
Macedonia	none	Georgia has no diplomatic relations with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia due to the name issue and hopes that the UN could find a viable solution to this problem. Georgia is especially interested in Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's experience in the process of integration into the Transatlantic structures.
Nicaragua	01994-09-14 14 September 1994 — 02008-11-28 28 November 2008	Nicaraguan-Georgian diplomatic relations established on September 19, 1994 ended on November 29, 2008. The Georgian Foreign Ministry said that it had cut diplomatic ties with Nicaragua in a response to the latter’s recognition of independence of breakaway South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Russia	01992-07-01 1 July 1992—02008-09-02 2 September 2008	See Georgia–Russia relations On August 29, 2008, in the aftermath of the 2008 South Ossetia war, Deputy Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze announced that Georgia had broken diplomatic relations with Russia. He also said that Russian diplomats must leave Georgia, and that no Georgian diplomat would remain in Russia, while only consular relations would be maintained. Russian foreign ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said that Russia regretted this step.
Tuvalu	02011-02-04 4 February 2011—02012-02-16 16 February 2012	On February 16, 2012 Georgia issued a presidential order ending diplomatic relations with Tuvalu. This comes in response to a visit by the Prime Minister of Tuvalu, Willy Telavi, to Abkhazia and South Ossetia in September 2011, where he announced that the Pacific nation would recognise the two states.

Overview

Foreign relation of Georgia:

  Diplomatic relations established

  No diplomatic relations established

  Diplomatic relations terminated

Georgia has established relations with 164 countries, the Vatican City, Order of Malta and Palestine.

Georgia has terminated its diplomatic relations with Russia and Nicaragua.

Georgia has not yet established diplomatic relations with:

• Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Venezuela.
• Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Eritrea, Lesotho, Mali, Namibia, Niger, São Tomé and Príncipe, Seychelles, South Sudan, Swaziland, Togo.
• Bhutan.
• Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Vanuatu.
• Macedonia.
• Sahrawi Republic and the rest of states with limited recognition.

See also

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia
• List of diplomatic missions in Georgia
• List of diplomatic missions of Georgia
• Georgia – European Union relations

External links

• MFA of Georgia - Bilateral relations
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia
• The Permanent Mission of Georgia to the United Nations
• United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia
• Georgia v. Russia Provisional Measures Order and President Rosalyn Higgins concurring and Joint Dissenting Opinion and ASIL