There are several thousand ethnic Georgians in Turkey and a smaller number of Turks (Meskhetian Turks) resident in Georgia. Due to centuries-old historical and cultural connections between the two countries, relations are generally cordial although disputes occasionally arise.
History
The region which now constitutes Georgia has a long history of interaction with Turkey and the former Ottoman Empire. Parts of Western Georgia, including the port city of Batumi, were ruled for centuries by the Ottomans. At the same time, hundreds of thousands of Georgians and Circassians lived in northeast Asia Minor, and communities of Georgians and other peoples of the South Caucasus were scattered all over the Empire.
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Turkey recognized the independence of Georgia on 16 December 1991. The formal Protocol on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the two countries was signed on 21 May 1992.[3]
In 2013, a Turkish nationalist map published had included the territory of Adjara into Turkish territory, which has caused friction and hostility between Georgia and Turkey.[4] The issue has been largely downplayed, however in 2017, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made a speech mentioning Georgian city Batumi, causing friction to return.[5]