Bilateral relations between Abkhazia and Vanuatu were begun when Vanuatu recognised Abkhazia's independence on 23 May 2011. On that day a joint statement on establishment of diplomatic relations was signed. However, the exact nature of the recognition was a matter of dispute and was not regularized until July 2013. Vanuatu was the fifth UN member state to recognize Abkhazia and the first not to also recognise South Ossetia's independence.