Georgia–United Kingdom relations

Britain recognized the Democratic Republic of Georgia in 1919.[6] Sir Oliver Wardrop served as the United Kingdom's first Chief Commissioner of Transcaucasia in Georgia from 1919–21.[7] He was welcomed by the government of Noe Zhordania, who supported Wardrop's a efforts to promote Georgian culture and gather support from western nations. Relations were suspended in February 1921 after Red Army invasion of Georgia and the subsequent creation of the Soviet Union.

In April 1987, Margaret Thatcher, the British Prime Minister made an official state visit to the Soviet Union, on the last day of which she visited the Georgian SSR, specifically Tbilisi.[8] It was the first visit of its kind to Georgia. She was hosted by First Secretary of the Georgian Communist Party Jumber Patiashvili.[9] She first layed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.[10] She was met with crowds in the capital, with Thatcher greeting onlookers with the word "gamarojobat".[11] She also attended a wedding at the Palace of Rituals, which she gifted the bride and the groom with a porcelain bowl.[12] In the evening, she attended a dinner hosted by Chairman of the Council of Ministers Otar Cherkezia and other regional officials, during which she noted the similarity in cultures, notably the shared patronage of Saint George.[13]

Official diplomatic relations were established in 1992. The British embassy in Tbilisi was opened in three years later.[14] In response to the Russo-Georgian War, the British government showed solidarity with Georgia, with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office releasing a statement calling for calm and Foreign Secretary David Miliband saying the following: "Russia has extended the fighting today well beyond South Ossetia, attacking the Georgian port of Poti, and the town of Gori, while Abkhaz forces have been shelling Georgian positions in the Upper Kodori valley. I deplore this."[15] On 10 August 2008, pro-Georgian protestors protested in front of the Russian embassy in London.[16] On 21-25 May 2006, Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli visited the United Kingdom.[17] In November 2015, former Prime Minister Tony Blair visited Georgia, being hosted by Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili who accompanied him to sights such as Mtatsminda Hill.[18][19]

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) based in the UK plays an important role in the development of the Georgian economy. The UK is one of the largest investors in Georgia. In 2017, it was third on the list with direct investments, having invested a total of $250 million that year.[20] The twin cities of Tbilisi and Bristol, Newport and Kutaisi have affected the impact tourism has, with there being a 40% increase in British tourists to Georgia in 2017.[21] The British Georgian Chamber of Commerce (BGCC) is a business organisation, founded by Lord Godfrey Cromwell and Mako Abashidze in March 2007 that aides in maintaining regular business contacts.[22] Former British Army officer and former Leader of the Conservatives in the European Parliament Geoffrey Van Orden said that in terms of economic relations, Georgia was one the "first of our friends to back post-Brexit Britain and seek a close future partnership".[23]

Britain has a history of with the Georgian Armed Forces in the War in Afghanistan. In March 2016, the British Armed Forces announced the creation of defence attaché in Georgia.[24] In May 2017, Georgian cadet Alexander Papavadze was named as the best overseas cadet at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, receiving an offer delivered for the first time in the history of the RMA, to become an overseas instructor of the Platoon Commander Battle Course.[25]

• Foreign relations of the United Kingdom
• Foreign relations of Georgia
• Georgians in the United Kingdom
• Georgians in Europe