US, Europe should stop meddling in Georgian politics, says Jeffrey Sachs

Jeffrey Sachs, a Columbia University professor and director of the Center for Sustainable Development, on Saturday called for the United States and European nations to cease their interference in Georgian politics.

In his remarks, Sachs argued that when the United States began to develop the idea of ​​NATO in Georgia, it became a destabilizing factor for the entire region.

“First and foremost, Europeans and the United States should stay out of Georgian politics. I believe that external influences and interventions bring no real benefit. I hope these actors allow Georgia to have its own political path and manage its internal affairs without the anxiety and pressure coming from Brussels or elsewhere”, Sachs said.

He further emphasised the importance of regional cooperation in the South Caucasus, suggesting that Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan should work together not only on economic strategies connecting East-West and North-South corridors but also on security matters.

“I believe that through joint efforts, the South Caucasus can function effectively. All this anxiety and agitation coming from outside is really not good”, he continued.

He also addressed NATO’s eastward enlargement, saying “when the United States began promoting the idea of NATO in Georgia, unfortunately, it became a destabilising factor for the entire region… NATO should have stayed away from Ukraine as well, and the world would be much safer today”.