Bilateral Relations
Chronology of Diplomatic Relations
Diplomatic relations between Georgia and the Kingdom of Norway were established in 1918 and re-established on 5 June 1992.
2022 marked the 30th anniversary of re-establishment of diplomatic relations between Georgia and the Kingdom of Norway.
Diplomatic representation of Georgia to the Kingdom of Norway was opened in 2012, and the Embassy of the Kingdom of Norway to Georgia – in 2019.
From 2006 to 2012, Georgia extended its diplomatic presence to the Kingdom of Norway from the Kingdom of Denmark.
Main Fields of Cooperation
Georgia and the Kingdom of Norway enjoy close friendly and partner relations that are based on mutual trust and shared Euro-Atlantic values and interests.
Cooperation between the two countries covers mostly political, economic, defence, cultural and educational and other areas.
Bilateral relations moved to a completely new stage in 2019, when the Kingdom of Norway established a diplomatic representation in Georgia. The official opening ceremony of the embassy took place in October 2022, with the participation of the foreign ministers of the two countries.
Of great importance was the bilateral visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia to Norway, which took place in 2018, as part of the Nordic tour.
Georgia also attaches great significance to the development of political dialogue with Norway within the framework of various Nordic regional formats on strategic issues of common interest.
Norway firmly supports Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, as well as the non-recognition policy of Georgia’s occupied territories by the Russian Federation, both at the bilateral level and within the framework of international organizations.
Worthy of special note is Norway's support for Georgia in the irreversible Euro-Atlantic integration process. Norway is actively involved in the implementation of the Substantial NATO-Georgia Package and leads the NATO-Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Center [JTEC] initiative.
The exchange of visits of parliamentary delegations plays an important role in enhancing collaboration between the two countries at the legislative level. Noteworthy is the official visit made by the Chairman of the Georgian Parliament to Norway in 2022 as part of a Nordic tour. Additionally, the Speaker of the Norwegian parliament visited Tbilisi in 2017 and 2015. It is worth mentioning that a friendship group with Norway is actively functioning at the Georgian parliament.
Sectoral Cooperation
Georgia and Norway have particularly close relations in the fields of defense, energy, international development, inclusive education and protection of cultural heritage.
The cooperation between the Norwegian Home Guard and the Georgian National Guard is successfully underway.
Georgia especially appreciates the long-term involvement of Norway, as one of the important donors, in the institutional and socio-economic modernization of our country.
Of great importance is successful cooperation in the energy sector, especially, in the area of renewable energy. In 2018, the Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate [NVE] and the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia.
In order to further deepen economic cooperation, the Georgian-Norwegian Chamber of Commerce was established in 2019. At the same time, the comprehensive Free Trade Agreement signed by Georgia on 27 June 2016 with the European Free Trade Association came into force for Norway on 1 September 2017.
Special recognition should be given to Norway for its extensive and sustained financial and expertise-based contributions to the advancement of inclusive education in Georgia. This support has led to the widespread adoption of inclusive education principles in schools and professional educational institutions across Georgia.
From 2006 to 2014, the Norwegian government provided significant financial support to the Tbilisi State University to train new generation of economists in the fields of environmental protection, energy and economics.
The Centre of Scandinavian Studies at Tbilisi State University provides classes in the Norwegian language.
With the Norwegian side’s support, an increasing number of students are able to continue their studies at various universities across Norway, under the short-term and long-term programmes.
Particularly high value needs to be placed on Georgia-Norway cooperation in the area of protection of cultural heritage since 2005. Many important large-scale projects have been carried out under this cooperation, with Norway’s financial and expert support, including the rehabilitation of the ethnographic museum in Tbilisi and the reconstruction of the district of Bethlehem, digitation of Georgia’s cultural heritage, etc.
Since 2008, Tbilisi State Conservatoire has been cooperating with the Norwegian Academy of Music. Many Georgian musicians have been given the opportunity to study at the Norwegian Music Academy.
Also noteworthy is the fruitful cooperation with The Norwegian Refugee Council [NRC] and The Norwegian Rule of Law [NORLAG] missions operating in Georgia in the past years.
Georgia and Norway have entered into various legal agreements, encompassing law enforcement, economic matters, and other areas.
Useful Links
Royal Norwegian Embassy in Tbilisi
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Norway
Government of the Kingdom of Norway
Parliament of the Kingdom of Norway [Storting]
The Royal House of Norway
+47 940 10 236
[email protected] / [email protected]
Gunnar Warebergsgate 13, 4021 Stavanger