India, Georgia strengthen ties during 8th Foreign Office Consultations
What's the story
India and Georgia held the eighth round of their Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) in Tbilisi. The meeting was chaired by Secretary (West) Sibi George from the Indian side and Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Khvitisiashvili from the Georgian side. The two countries discussed a wide range of topics including political engagement, trade and economic cooperation, cultural exchanges, and people-to-people ties.
Strategic partnership
Aim to deepen strategic relationship
The two nations also agreed to hold regular official exchanges in a bid to strengthen cooperation and explore new areas of partnership. This will further deepen the strategic relationship between India and Georgia. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) shared details of the meeting on X, emphasizing that they discussed ways to strengthen ties between their countries while exchanging views on regional and global issues of mutual interest.
Cultural connections
Historical ties between India and Georgia
India recognized Georgia's independence in December 1991 and opened a resident mission in Tbilisi in July 2024. Before that, the Indian Embassy in Yerevan, Armenia was also accredited to Georgia. The cultural and historical ties between the two countries go back centuries with Indian fables like Panchatantra influencing Georgian folklore. In fact, Georgians served at Mughal courts in India and a 19th-century Georgian painter Niko Pirosmanashvili depicted India through his art "Hunting in India."
Historical gesture
Relics of Queen St Ketevan returned to Georgia
The MEA also highlighted the return of relics of Queen St Ketevan, discovered in Goa's St Augustine Church, to Georgia in 2021. This was a major gesture that further emphasized the long-standing historical and cultural ties between India and Georgia. The move was facilitated by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, showcasing India's commitment to strengthening its relationship with Georgia on multiple fronts.