Foreign relations of Georgia

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 OSCE, the CIS and the Council of Europe.

Because of its strategic location it is in both the Russian and American spheres of influence. In common with many ex-Soviet republics it is both influenced by and fearful of its larger neighbour. The invitation of US troops into the countrywhen caused tension with Moscow.Fact|date=August 2008 The Russian government also believes that Georgia is being used by Chechen separatsts. The American government has interests in an oil pipeline passing through the country. Former president Eduard Shevardnadze attempted to balance these competing demands.Fact|date=August 2008 The new leadership is much closer to the United States.Fact|date=August 2008

Disputes - international:Georgia relationships with Russia are at it lowest point in modern history due to Georgian-Russian espionage controversy and related events.

Illicit drugs:illicit cultivator of cannabis mostly for domestic consumption; increasingly used as a transshipment point for illicit drugs - mostly opium and hashish - to Western Europe and the U.S. via Iran, Central Asia, and Russia.Fact|date=August 2008

ee also

*Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia
*Georgian diplomatic missions
*List of diplomatic missions in Georgia
*Georgia-United States relations
*Georgia-Pakistan relations

External links

* [http://www.mfa.gov.ge/index.php?lang_id=ENG Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia]
* [http://www.un.int/georgia The Permanent Mission of Georgia to the United Nations]
* [http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unomig United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia]