Diplomatic relations between Georgia and the French Republic were established in 1921 and re-established on 21 August 1992.
Both the Embassy of Georgia to the French Republic and the Embassy of the French Republic to Georgia were opened in 1993.
Georgia and the French Republic have developed strong bonds of friendship and a multidimensional partnership both in bilateral and multilateral formats. The agenda of cooperation between the two countries includes politics, trade and economy, defence, law enforcement, parliamentary ties, education, culture and other fields.
Modern bilateral relations with the French Republic take their origin from the period of the Democratic Republic of Georgia (1918-1921). In 1921, a French consulate was opened in Tbilisi, and vice-consulates started functioning in Poti and Batumi. Following the annexation and occupation of Georgia by the Red Army, Noe Jordania, the Head of the Government as well as other members of the Government were forced into political exile and sought refuge in France. The year 2021 marked the 100th anniversary of the recognition of the Democratic Republic of Georgia by France, as well as of the Georgian emigration to France.
Nowadays, representatives of both executive and legislative authorities of Georgia and France often carry out high-level visits. In 2023, the Prime Minister, President, and Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia paid visits to France; the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France visited Tbilisi, as a gesture of strong support towards Georgia. Moreover, the Prime Minister of Georgia and the Minister of Foreign Affairs hold frequent meetings with their French counterparts, within the framework of various international platforms.
The cooperation with France in international organizations is particularly dynamic. France firmly supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia, as well as the non-recognition policy vis-à-vis Georgia’s occupied territories. Besides, France is a contributor to the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) in Georgia.
During the 2008 Russia-Georgia war, the pivotal role played by the former French President Nicolas Sarkozy in mediating the ceasefire agreement signed on 12 August, while France held the presidency of the Council of the European Union, proved to be of immense value.
The parliaments of the two countries enjoy strong bilateral ties. A group of friendship with the French Parliament is functioning at the Parliament of Georgia. The France-Georgia friendship group is operating at the French National Assembly, together with the France-Caucasus friendship group and the Georgia friendship sub-group at the French Senate.
The legal framework regulating the bilateral ties between Georgia and France encompasses a broad spectrum of areas, including trade, finance, tax policy, transport, security, defence, education, and culture.
In 2019, Georgia and France established a high-level strategic format - the "Dimitri Amilakhvari Franco-Georgian Dialogue”, which contributes to deepening the cooperation in the fields of politics, defence and security, trade and economy, education and culture.
The initiative to establish the dialogue was announced by the former Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, H.E. Jean-Yves Le Drian, on 26 May 2018, during his visit to Georgia. On 19 February 2019, during the visit of the President of Georgia to France, the presidents of the two countries signed the Joint Declaration on the establishment of the Dialogue.
On December 2, 2019, the inaugural session of the Dimitri Amilakvari Dialogue, co-chaired by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Georgia and France was held in Paris.
The Georgian-German-French Triangle has been successfully functioning since 2018. The Triangle is a regular format for political dialogue and discussion on strategic issues with the Foreign Ministries of the two leading European countries. Four sessions of trilateral political consultations have been held to date.
The sectoral cooperation between Georgia and France is diverse and dynamic.
The two countries enjoy particularly close ties in the field of defence, which include: annual bilateral consultations, participation in French educational programs for representatives of the Ministry of Defence of Georgia, expert consultations, practical support on air defence and cyber-security issues, etc. In addition, regular port calls performed by French military ships in the territorial waters of Georgia represent an important aspect of the successful cooperation in the field of defense.
The bilateral economic cooperation between Georgia and France is rapidly expanding. The annual increase in trade dynamics and the French companies’ growing interest in Georgia create a good prerequisite for deepening relations. French companies represented in Georgia operate in the fields of infrastructure, renewable energy, construction, tourism, agriculture, and trade.
Education represents another successful field of cooperation. Each year, the French Government provides scholarships for Georgian students and post-graduate students to study in French universities. The successful activities of the French Institute (Institut français), the Franco-Georgian University (with dual degree diplomas) and the Caucasus French School in Georgia complement the vivid French footprint in Georgia.
France is a major contributor to the process of institutional modernization and socio-economic transformation of Georgia. In this context, the Georgian side closely cooperates with the French Development Agency (AFD), whose representative office was opened in Georgia, on 22 March 2017.
The AFD finances important public policy projects in energy, agriculture, environmental protection, water supply, healthcare, private sector development, and other priority areas.
Located in the Essonne department near Paris, the Leuville Chateau estate and the Leuville cemetery where renowned Georgian public figures were inhumed relate to an important historical period for Georgia. The representatives of the First Democratic Republic of Georgia fleeing the Soviet aggression took shelter in this estate, out of the goodwill of France.
On 23 September 2016, the Leuville estate was rendered to the Georgian State. Works are currently underway to create a Georgian-French historical and cultural center on the territory of the estate.
As part of his visit to Strasbourg, on 18 April 2023, the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Lasha Darsalia, met with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić.
On 19 April 2023, the 27th consolidated report of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe - "Conflict in Georgia" was discussed at the meeting of Council of Europe Ministers' Deputies. First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lasha Darsalia, took part in the session.
The ministers talked about Georgia’s European integration agenda, the latest report of the European Commission, and Georgia's progress on the implementation of the European Commission’s recommendations.
