Foreign relations of Georgia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Georgia's location, nestled between the Black Sea, Russia, and Turkey, renders it strategically important. 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 tumultuous relationship with Russia, but it is reaching out to its other neighbours 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, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States all have embassies in Tbilisi. Georgia in 2004-2008 sought to become a member of NATO, but did not succeed in the face of strong Russian opposition.[1]

Georgia is a member of the United Nations, the Council of Europe, and the OSCE. Because of its strategic location, Georgia is in both the Russian and American spheres of influence;[2] however, Georgia's relationship with Russia is at its lowest point since 1921 due to Russo-Georgian War. As a result, Georgia broke off diplomatic relations with Russia and has left the Commonwealth of Independent States.[3][4]

Diplomatic relations

List of countries which Georgia maintains diplomatic relations with:

More information #, Country ...
# Country Date[5]
1 New Zealand 11 March 1992
2 United States 24 March 1992
3 Austria 25 March 1992
4 Germany 13 April 1992
5 Cuba 18 April 1992
6 Greece 20 April 1992
7 Netherlands 22 April 1992
State of Palestine 25 April 1992[6]
8 United Kingdom 27 April 1992
9 Poland 28 April 1992
10 Egypt 11 May 1992
11 Italy 11 May 1992
12 Mongolia 12 May 1992
13 Hungary 14 May 1992
14 Iran 15 May 1992
15 Turkey 21 May 1992
Holy See 23 May 1992
16 Portugal 23 May 1992
17 Israel 1 June 1992
18 Belgium 5 June 1992
19 Bulgaria 5 June 1992
20 Norway 5 June 1992
21 Chile 8 June 1992
22 Mexico 8 June 1992
23 China 9 June 1992
24 Liechtenstein 10 June 1992
25  Switzerland 10 June 1992
26 Armenia 17 June 1992
27 Estonia 17 June 1992
28 Moldova 25 June 1992
29 Romania 25 June 1992
30 Vietnam 30 June 1992
31 Denmark 1 July 1992
Russia (suspended) 1 July 1992[7]
32 Finland 8 July 1992
33 Cyprus 9 July 1992
34 Spain 9 July 1992
35 Kyrgyzstan 10 July 1992
36 Australia 16 July 1992
37 Turkmenistan 16 July 1992
38 Thailand 21 July 1992
39 Ukraine 22 July 1992
40 Canada 23 July 1992
41 Kazakhstan 24 July 1992
42 Zimbabwe 24 July 1992
43 Morocco 30 July 1992
44 Japan 3 August 1992
45 France 21 August 1992
46 Bangladesh 27 August 1992
47 Kuwait 3 September 1992
48 Sweden 19 September 1992
49 Iceland 21 September 1992
50 Philippines 21 September 1992
51 India 28 September 1992
52 United Arab Emirates 20 October 1992
53 Argentina 2 November 1992
54 Azerbaijan 8 November 1992
55 Ghana 4 December 1992
56 South Korea 14 December 1992
57 Czech Republic 1 January 1993
58 Slovakia 1 January 1993
59 Indonesia 25 January 1993
60 Slovenia 28 January 1993
61 Croatia 1 February 1993
62 Malta 1 February 1993
63 Monaco 1 February 1993
64 Singapore 26 February 1993
65 Sudan 10 March 1993
66 Latvia 11 March 1993
67 Qatar 16 March 1993
68 Burundi 21 March 1993
69 Lebanon 1 April 1993
70 South Africa 23 April 1993
71 Brazil 28 April 1993
72 Malaysia 7 May 1993[8]
73 Bahrain 10 May 1993
Syria (suspended) 18 May 1993[9]
74 Algeria 27 May 1993
75 Ethiopia 29 June 1993
76 Albania 8 July 1993
77 Zambia 14 October 1993
78 Belarus 6 January 1994
79 Jordan 6 April 1994
80 Libya 10 May 1994
81 Uruguay 11 May 1994[10]
82 Pakistan 12 May 1994
83 Saudi Arabia 27 May 1994
84 Afghanistan 12 July 1994
85 Tajikistan 4 August 1994
86 Uzbekistan 19 August 1994
Nicaragua (suspended) 14 September 1994[11]
87 Lithuania 16 September 1994
88 Luxembourg 17 October 1994
89 North Korea 3 November 1994
90 Cambodia 17 November 1994
91 Serbia 26 June 1995
92 Yemen 5 September 1995
93 Ivory Coast 21 December 1995
94 Tunisia 7 March 1996
95 Jamaica 31 July 1996
96 Ireland 12 September 1996
97 Mozambique 13 September 1996
98 San Marino 19 November 1996
99 Angola 10 March 1997
100 Sierra Leone 7 April 1997
101 Colombia 6 June 1997
102 Ecuador 28 January 1998
103 Bosnia and Herzegovina 16 March 1998
104 Costa Rica 5 May 1998
105 Sri Lanka 16 June 1998
Sovereign Military Order of Malta 24 July 1998
106 Guinea 31 July 1998
107 Laos 6 November 1998
108 Panama 18 November 1998
109 Bolivia 20 November 1998
110 El Salvador 17 May 1999
111 Myanmar 16 August 1999
112 Nigeria June 2000
113 Djibouti 22 November 2000
114   Nepal 22 September 2005[12]
115 Andorra 5 April 2006
116 Oman 1 January 2007
117 Madagascar 24 May 2007
118 Iraq 18 September 2007
119 Montenegro 29 October 2007
120 Peru 14 January 2010
121 Botswana 15 January 2010
122 Cape Verde 22 January 2010
123 Dominican Republic 22 January 2010
124 Marshall Islands 18 February 2010
125 Saint Lucia 25 February 2010
126 Brunei 1 March 2010
127 Liberia 4 March 2010[12]
128 Paraguay 9 March 2010
129 Maldives 11 March 2010
130 Samoa 12 March 2010
131 Comoros 26 March 2010
132 Fiji 29 March 2010
133 Antigua and Barbuda 7 April 2010
134 Gambia 21 April 2010
135 Guatemala 27 April 2010
136 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 22 June 2010
137 Equatorial Guinea 23 June 2010
138 Kenya 2 July 2010
139 Senegal 19 August 2010
140 Uganda 9 December 2010
141 Dominica 15 December 2010
142 Central African Republic 20 December 2010[12]
143 Democratic Republic of the Congo 14 January 2011
144 Somalia 26 January 2011
145 Tuvalu 4 February 2011[12]
146 Mauritius 3 March 2011
147 Republic of the Congo 3 March 2011
148 Guinea-Bissau 9 March 2011
149 Honduras 9 March 2011
150 Solomon Islands 11 March 2011
151 Rwanda 23 March 2011
152 Trinidad and Tobago 8 April 2011
153 Bahamas 13 May 2011
154 Suriname 27 May 2011
155 Mauritania 16 June 2011
156 Federated States of Micronesia 12 August 2011
157 Gabon 19 September 2011
158 Malawi 19 September 2011
159 Palau 17 October 2011[13]
160 Saint Kitts and Nevis 26 October 2011
161 Grenada 23 November 2011
162 Haiti 16 December 2011
163 Timor-Leste 22 December 2011[12]
164 Eritrea 24 February 2012
165 Guyana 23 April 2012
166 Niger 30 May 2012[12]
167 Mali 31 May 2012[12]
168 South Sudan 15 June 2012
169 Kiribati 28 September 2012
170 Burkina Faso 2 October 2012[12]
171 Seychelles 15 March 2013
172 Vanuatu 12 July 2013
173 Lesotho 23 September 2013
174 Cameroon 26 September 2013
175 Togo 27 May 2014
176 Chad 19 June 2014
177 São Tomé and Príncipe 12 September 2014[14]
178 Benin 25 September 2014[12]
179 Tonga 18 February 2015[12]
180 Namibia 5 November 2015[12]
181 Eswatini 20 May 2016[12]
182 Papua New Guinea 4 October 2016[15]
183 Belize 1 October 2017
184 Barbados 8 March 2018[12]
185 Tanzania 20 October 2018[16]
186 North Macedonia 15 March 2019[12]
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Relations by country

Multilateral

More information Organization, Formal Relations Began ...
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Africa

More information Country, Formal Relations Began ...
Country Formal Relations Began Notes
Algeria27 May 1993See Algeria–Georgia relations
  • Both countries established diplomatic relations on 27 May 1993.
  • Algeria is represented in Georgia through its embassy in Ankara, Turkey.
  • Georgia is represented in Algeria through its embassy in Madrid, Spain.
Egypt11 May 1992[17] See Egypt–Georgia relations
South Africa23 April 1994 See Georgia–South Africa relations
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Americas

More information Country, Formal Relations Began ...
Country Formal Relations Began Notes
BrazilApril 1993 See Brazil–Georgia relations
  • Brazil has an embassy in Tbilisi.
  • Georgia has an embassy in Brasília.
Canada23 July 1992 See Canada–Georgia relations
  • Canada is accredited to Georgia from its embassy in Ankara, Turkey.
  • Georgia has an embassy in Ottawa.
Mexico8 June 1992[19] See Georgia–Mexico relations
  • Georgia has an embassy in Mexico City.[20]
  • Mexico is accredited to Georgia from its embassy in Ankara, Turkey and maintains an honorary consulate in Tbilisi.[21]
Nicaragua[note 1]14 September 1994[11]28 November 2008[22] See Georgia–Nicaragua relations

Nicaraguan-Georgian diplomatic relations established on 19 September 1994[11] and ended on 29 November 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.[22]

United States23 April 1992[23]See Georgia–United States relations

On 9 January 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.[24]

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Asia

More information Country, Formal Relations Began ...
Country Formal Relations Began Notes
Armenia17 July 1992[25] See Armenia–Georgia relations
  • There are nearly 250,000 Armenians in Georgia, among them 115,000 living in Samtskhe-Javakheti and 83,000 in Tbilisi.[26] 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.
  • Armenia has an embassy in Tbilisi and a general consulate in Batumi.
  • Georgia has an embassy in Yerevan.
  • Both countries are full members of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly and the EU's Eastern Partnership.
Azerbaijan18 November 1992[27] See Azerbaijan–Georgia relations
China9 June 1992[28] See China–Georgia relations
East Timor22 December 2011

Georgia is represented in Timor by its embassy in Jakarta.[30]

Hong Kong See Georgia–Hong Kong relations
India28 September 1992[31] See Georgia–India relations
Iran15 May 1992[33] See Persia-Georgia relations, Georgia–Iran relations
  • Persia and Georgia have had relations for thousands of years.
Iraq18 September 2007 See Georgia–Iraq relations
Israel1 June 1992[34]See Georgia–Israel relations
Japan3 August 1992[35] See Georgia–Japan relations
  • Since November 2006, Georgia has maintained an embassy in Tokyo.
  • Japan has an embassy in Tbilisi.

Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the relations with Japan

Kazakhstan24 July 1992[36] See Georgia–Kazakhstan relations
Kuwait
  • Georgia has an embassy in Kuwait City.
  • Kuwait is accredited to Georgia from its embassy in Yerevan, Armenia.
Kyrgyzstan10 July 1992 See Georgia–Kyrgyzstan relations
Malaysia7 May 1993[39] See Georgia–Malaysia relations
Myanmar16 August 1999 See Georgia–Myanmar relations
Saudi Arabia See Georgia–Saudi Arabia relations
  • Georgia has an embassy in Riyadh.
  • Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Tbilisi.
South Korea14 December 1992[40] See Georgia–South Korea relations

The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Korea and Georgia began on 14 December 1992.[41]

Syria18 May 1993[45]5 June 2018[46]See Georgia–Syria relations

Georgia began the procedure of terminating diplomatic relations with Syria due to Damascus' recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

TaiwannoneRepublic of China passports are not valid for entry in Georgia, while the Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared Georgia as a "non-friendly country" to Taiwan.[47]
Tajikistan4 August 1994 See Georgia–Tajikistan relations
Turkey 21 May 1992[49] See Georgia–Turkey relations
United Arab Emirates20 October 1992 See Georgia–United Arab Emirates relations
  • Georgia has an embassy in Abu Dhabi.
  • United Arab Emirates has an embassy in Tbilisi.
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Europe

More information Country, Formal Relations Began ...
Country Formal Relations Began Notes
Albania8 July 1993[52]See Albania–Georgia relations
  • Albania is represented in Georgia through a non resident ambassador based in Ankara (Turkey).
  • Georgia is represented in Albania through a non resident ambassador based in Ankara (Turkey).
Austria18 January 1993[53] See Austria–Georgia relations
Belarus14 July 1992 See Belarus–Georgia relations
  • Belarus has an embassy in Tbilisi.
  • Georgia has an embassy in Minsk.
Bulgaria5 June 1992[54]See Bulgaria–Georgia relations
CroatiaSee Croatia–Georgia relations
  • Croatia is accredited to Georgia from its embassy in Baku, Azerbaijan.
  • Georgia has an embassy in Zagreb.
  • Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe.
Cyprus9 July 1993[57]See Cyprus–Georgia relations
  • Cyprus is represented in Georgia through a non resident ambassador based in Athens (Greece).
  • Georgia has an embassy in Nicosia.
  • Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe.
Denmark1 July 1992[58]See Denmark–Georgia relations
EstoniaSee Estonia–Georgia relations
FinlandSee Finland–Georgia relations
France21 August 1992[59]See France–Georgia relations
  • France has an embassy in Tbilisi.
  • Georgia has an embassy in Paris.
  • Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe.
Germany13 April 1992[60] See Georgia–Germany relations
Greece20 April 1992See Georgia–Greece relations
Hungary14 May 1992[63] See Georgia–Hungary relations
Iceland21 September 1992See Georgia–Iceland relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 21 September 1992.

Italy11 May 1992[65]See Georgia–Italy relations
  • Georgia has an embassy in Rome.
  • Italy has an embassy in Tbilisi.
  • Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe.
Latvia11 March 1993[66] See Georgia–Latvia relations
Liechtenstein10 June 1992 See Georgia–Liechtenstein relations
Lithuania16 September 1994[68] See Georgia–Lithuania relations
Luxembourg23 June 1992 See Georgia–Luxembourg relations
Malta1 February 1993[71]See Georgia–Malta relations
Moldova25 June 1992[72] See Georgia–Moldova relations
Monaco2 March 2009 See Georgia–Monaco relations
Montenegro29 October 2007 See Georgia–Montenegro relations
Netherlands22 April 1992[73][74]See Georgia–Netherlands relations
Norway5 June 1992 See Georgia–Norway relations
Poland28 April 1992[76]See Georgia–Poland relations
  • Georgia has an embassy in Warsaw.
  • Poland has an embassy in Tbilisi.
  • Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe.
PortugalSee Georgia–Portugal relations
  • Georgia has an embassy in Lisbon.
  • Portugal is accredited to Georgia from its embassy in Ankara, Turkey.
  • Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe.
Romania25 June 1992[77] See Georgia–Romania relations
Russia[note 1]1 July 19922 September 2008[78]See Georgia–Russia relations

On 29 August 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.[79]

Serbia26 June 1995[80] See Georgia–Serbia relations
Slovenia13 January 1993See Georgia–Slovenia relations
Spain9 July 1992See Georgia–Spain relations
  • Georgia has an embassy in Madrid.
  • Spain is accredited to Georgia from its embassy in Ankara, Turkey.
  • Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe.
Sweden19 September 1992[83]See Georgia–Sweden relations
  • 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 12 August 2008. The protests was held by a group of Georgians and Swedes.
  • Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe.
 Switzerland10 June 1992[84] See Georgia–Switzerland relations
Ukraine22 July 1992[86]See Georgia–Ukraine relations

Relations between Georgia and Ukraine and between the Georgian and Ukrainian people in particular last from the Middle Ages.

United Kingdom27 April 1992[87] See Georgia–United Kingdom relations

Georgia established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 27 April 1992.

Both countries share common membership of the Council of Europe, the International Criminal Court, OSCE, and the World Trade Organization. Bilaterally the two countries have and an Investment Agreement,[90] and a Strategic Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.[91]

Vatican City5 May 1992 See Georgia–Holy See relations
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Oceania

More information Country, Formal Relations Began ...
Country Formal Relations Began Notes
Australia16 July 1992[92] See Australia–Georgia relations
  • Australia is accredited to Georgia from its embassy in Ankara, Turkey.
  • Georgia has an embassy in Canberra.
Fiji29 March 2010[93]See Fiji–Georgia relations
Kiribati28 September 2012[97] While their ties have been limited, Kiribati's President Anote Tong met with Georgian Foreign Affairs Minister Maia Panjikidze in September 2013 on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.[98]

Kiribati has been a steadfast supporter of Georgia's territorial integrity since then, despite Russia's attempts to lobby Pacific states like Nauru, Tuvalu and Vanuatu to recognize the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. In 2018, Kiribati was one of the nations to vote in favor of the Georgia-sponsored UN resolutions calling for the return of internally displaced persons from Abkhazia and South Ossetia.[99]

Georgia is represented in Kiribati via its embassy in Canberra, Australia.[100]

Tuvalu4 February 2011[101]16 February 2012[102]
31 March 2014[103]
On 16 February 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.[102] However, the Prime Minister of Tuvalu, Enele Sopoaga retracted the recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia on 31 March 2014 when Tuvalu's Foreign Minister Taukelina Finikaso signed an agreement to establish diplomatic relations with Georgia. Tuvalu's Foreign Minister said that his country supports Georgia's territorial integrity in its international recognized borders.[103][104]
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Overview

Georgia has established relations with 186 countries and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. Georgia has terminated its diplomatic relations with Russia,[note 1][79] Nicaragua[note 1][22] and Syria.[note 1][46]

Georgia has not yet established diplomatic relations with:

See also

Further reading

Notes

References

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