Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili has expressed optimism regarding improvements in relations with the United States under the incoming Trump administration, emphasizing Tbilisi's significance as a "strategic partner."
Speaking local TV channel following Washington's move last month to suspend strategic partnership with Georgia in response to its Government's decision in November “not to include accession talks with the European Union in its agenda until 2028” due to “blackmail” from the bloc, the official highlighted “historical and strategic reasons” underpinning the bilateral partnership, The Caspian Post reports, citing Georgian media.
“I am sure that all this [improvement in ties] will happen because Georgia is an important partner, including for the US”, she claimed.
Botchorishvili attributed the current tensions in US-Georgia relations to the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian conflict, which she said had shaped regional dynamics and affected foreign policy priorities.
“We connect this attitude towards Georgia to the war that is currently underway in Ukraine and, in general, to the situation that has been created in the region. In this regard, we have repeatedly heard the position of the newly elected US President how he sees the need for an urgent resolution of this conflict in our region”, Botchorishvili noted.
The official added the incoming US administration had already “signalled a proactive stance” toward resolving the conflict in Ukraine and engaging diplomatically with Russia.
“This gives reason to think that very soon this issue will be even more actively on the international agenda. Both Russia and Ukraine will have to start thinking about some kind of agreement and finding diplomatic ways”, she said.
Botchorishvili, acknowledged the immediate focus of the new US administration may not be Georgia, but expressed confidence in a forthcoming shift in relations.
“I do not expect that the US President will enter the cabinet and will first start thinking and caring about Georgia. Relations will be different, this is based on the premise that exists today. These deteriorated relations will be changed, and this situation will be different in a few months”, she pledged.
The Minister also highlighted the importance of strengthening partnerships with “all strategic allies”, noting that Georgia had “consistently sought” to strengthen its ties with the US.
“It is important for us that partnerships with all strategic partners are loaded with content. We have said this many times. Unfortunately, this did not work out under the conditions of this [US] administration. We have sent a message many times that we want to load these relations with content, and for our relations to be truly strategic”, she said.
Botchorishvili, a former ruling Georgian Dream party MP and the Chair of the European Integration Parliamentary Committee, took the post of the Minister after the October general elections.
