Georgia–United Kingdom relations
Georgia |
United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Diplomatic mission | |
| Embassy of Georgia, London | Embassy of the United Kingdom, Tbilisi |
| Envoy | |
| Ambassador Sophie Katsarava | Ambassador Mark Clayton |
Formal diplomatic relations between Georgia and the United Kingdom can be traced back to at least 1919, during the First Georgian Republic. After the defeat of German Empire, Georgia's ally, in WWI, parts of Georgia came under British administration and British troops were also stationed in Tiflis to stave off the Bolshevik invasion. This lasted until 1920, when Britain left due to a variety of geopolitical factors.
In the present day, Georgia-UK relations remain very cordial and the two countries cooperate closely. "Georgia is a strategic partner to the UK" and since 2019, relations between the two countries are streamlined by the "UK-Georgia Strategic Partnership and Cooperation Agreement", which largely replaced the EU-Georgia Association Agreement following Brexit. Both countries maintain embassies in the respective capitals.
In 2014, UK and Georgia inaugurated Wardrop strategic dialogue, a format of annual meetings to promote their biletial co-operation in security, defense policy, economy and trade. Both nations are members of the Council of Europe.
Relations between the two countries have become more strained in the wake of the 2024–2025 Georgian protests and the Georgian Dream party's increasingly undemocratic tactics, with the UK government freezing security dialogue and the UK Foreign Office stating that the 'direction of the Georgian Dream party risks freedom of expression and assembly and further discrimination against and stigmatising Georgia's LGBT+ community.'