Georgia seeks “clarity, strategic partnership” with US, says Georgian FM

Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili on Wednesday emphasised the Government's unwavering commitment to its strategic partnership with the United States, while also expressing the need for clarity regarding the new US administration's approach to bilateral relations.

In her interview with Imedi TV, Botchorishvili reiterated that for Georgia, the US remains a strategically vital partner.

“For us, the US remains a strategically important partner, and of course, it's also important for us to have some clarity on how the new American administration views relations with Georgia”, the Minister said.

She further clarified that the Georgian Government was anticipating a strategic partnership, not a relationship defined by the MEGOBARI Act as envisioned by its proponents.

“Regarding relations with the United States, our society, and not only our society, has seen an open letter that very well outlines what we desire in our relations with the United States, what we expect from the new US administration, and what our overall vision is when we talk about relations with the United States. Our decision was not to suspend the strategic partnership. For us, it remains a strategically important partner, and of course, it is also important for us to have some clarity on how the new American administration views relations with Georgia”, she continued.

Minister Botchorishvili noted that she had had numerous communications with the US Ambassador, including a recent meeting attended by a representative from the State Department in Washington. She stressed the importance of the Embassy and the Ambassador in fostering stronger ties between the two nations.

“It is very important that, of course, the Embassy represents the country and the country's interests, as the Ambassador has repeatedly emphasised. And another important thing is how much the Embassy and the Ambassador contribute to strengthening relations between the two countries. When we saw relations develop as they did between Georgia and the US under the previous administration, and now, under the new administration, Georgia expresses hope, interest, and readiness for these relations to improve, to be rebooted in a positive context, there should, of course, be no hindering factors, and a diplomat should not play a negative role in this case. They should be facilitators of this process”, Botchorishvili noted.

The Minister further expressed hope that the period of reflection in Washington would soon come to an end and more clarity would emerge.

She acknowledged that despite the MEGOBARI Act, passed by Congress, being presented as not representing the executive branch's or State Department's position, it is currently the only document the US Congress has recently considered regarding Georgia.

“For us, the MEGOBARI Act is neither about friendship nor acceptable as a foundation for the US-Georgia relations. We expect a genuine strategic partnership, not one framed by the authors of that Act”, Botchorishvili concluded.