Jeffrey Sachs: Ukraine was told fairy tales about NATO, but ended up in war - Georgia must exercise great caution

Renowned economist and global affairs expert Jeffrey Sachs on Wednesday argued that Georgia should exercise “very great caution” in its foreign policy, saying he did not believe the country would ever become a NATO member because Russia would regard such a move as grounds for war.

Responding to a question about whether Georgia had any realistic prospect of joining NATO and what the alternative might be, Sachs argued that Georgia falls within what he described as Russia’s “security sphere” and that Moscow does not want the United States positioned near its borders.

“I disagree with the widely held view - one that is also common in Georgia - that every country can simply choose whatever it wants. That is not how the world works. Take Cuba in 1962. Cuba decided to align itself with the Soviet Union. Cubans argued that they were a sovereign country and wanted nuclear weapons. The United States did not say, ‘Well, that is Cuba’s sovereign choice’. On the contrary, Washington threatened war, imposed a blockade, and was prepared to risk even a Third World War to prevent Soviet missiles from being stationed near its territory”, he said in an interview with Imedi TV.

“Russia is making the same argument today. It says there is no possibility that a US-aligned military alliance will be established in the South Caucasus or in Ukraine. That is the reality”, the Professor continued.

Sachs stressed that many people in Georgia may not like it, but “your neighbour is a superpower. That is simply a fact”.

“I often use the term ‘security sphere’ rather than ‘sphere of influence’. I do not believe Georgia belongs to Russia’s sphere of influence. I want Georgia to be a sovereign country, free to choose its own economic and social path and elect its own Government. Russia has no right to determine those matters”, he said.

“At the same time, I believe Georgia lies within Russia’s security sphere. In practical terms, that means Georgia should not invite another superpower into the country because Russia would regard that as a direct threat”, Sachs added.

He further highlighted that Russia has legitimate national security concerns, stressing that it does not want the United States on its border.

“I know my own country well. The United States is not simply a kind and peace-loving nation. By that, I mean American leaders. They seek to dominate the world and weaken Russia. I do not support that approach. At the same time, Russia does not want to be weakened either. That is why Georgia must be extremely cautious - very, very cautious”, the Professor noted.

“Ukraine was not cautious. Ukraine is an extremely delicate and complicated issue. I have followed these developments for 30 years. The United States wanted Ukraine to join NATO - not only in 2008 but since the 1990s. Why? Because Washington was not primarily interested in Ukraine itself, it was interested in weakening Moscow”, he continued.

The Professor pointed out that one of the leading strategists, Zbigniew Brzezinski, referred to Ukraine as a geopolitical pivot, meaning it mattered chiefly as a means of weakening Russia.

“The Russians were not naïve - they understood exactly what this strategy was about and repeatedly warned the United States to stay away”, he said.
Sachs emphasised that before 2014, the Ukrainian public did not support joining NATO. That was not what Ukrainians wanted, but it was what the United States wanted. That is why Washington sought regime change in Ukraine in 2014.

“The United States played a role in the Maidan coup - I know this well. My colleague at Columbia University, Victoria Nuland, was directly and actively involved in the events surrounding the change of Government in Ukraine in February 2014. She is not my favourite colleague, and I am quite sure I am not hers”, he noted.

Sachs said that this was America’s geopolitical game, but for Ukraine it has been a tragedy.

“Another colleague of mine, University of Chicago Professor John Mearsheimer, has said that the United States put Ukraine on the path to destruction”, he added.

“Ukraine was told wonderful fairy tales - that it would be safe in NATO, that it would enjoy lasting prosperity, that everyone would love Ukraine. In reality, it was led straight into a war - a war that still has not ended”, Sachs said.

“I do not want to see Georgia at war. I want Georgia to remain safe, and I want Georgia to act with great caution”, Sachs concluded.