Georgia’s ruling party official says Brussels will eventually have to reset relations with Georgia

Levan Machavariani, the First Deputy Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party faction in the Parliament, on Saturday said Brussels would eventually have to engage in dialogue with Georgia, arguing that the European Union’s interest in the Middle Corridor makes a reset of relations inevitable.

In his interview with Imedi TV, Machavariani noted that the European Union is particularly interested in the full operationalisation of the Middle Corridor, while Georgia remains a key country in the route.

“In terms of connectivity, we see how great Brussels’ interest is, first of all, in the full operationalisation of the Middle Corridor. This is precisely what gives me grounds to say that a reset of relations is inevitable”, Machavariani said.

He highlighted that the Georgian Government has repeatedly offered to discuss any concerns with Brussels through argument-based dialogue.

“For four years, at every level, we have consistently expressed our readiness to meet in Brussels to address any claims through reasoned argument. Instead, they avoid dialogue and feed narratives directly to their agents. While they remain inactive for now, predicting their next move is simple - especially given their reliance on the Middle Corridor”, he noted.

The official further emphasised Georgia’s key geographic position on the Black Sea and its central role in the Middle Corridor.

“No matter what Marta Kos or Kaja Kallas may say about Georgia not bordering the Black Sea, we all know that Georgia does border the Black Sea and that Georgia holds a key position in the Middle Corridor. We all see what kind of relations are taking shape between Georgia and the other countries participating in the Middle Corridor”, he stressed.

Machavariani argued that Georgia’s growing cooperation with Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Central Asian countries, China, and Singapore was strengthening the country’s regional position.

“We all see what friendship there is with our neighbors - Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia - how relations are deepening with the countries of Central Asia, how deep the friendship with China already is. We are now establishing close economic and political ties with Singapore”, Machavariani said.

The MP stressed that Brussels must accept that Georgia’s strategic assets would remain under national control and that dialogue with the elected government is inevitable.

“Accordingly, Brussels will also have to get used to all of this - get used to the fact that neither our homeland, nor our country’s strategic facilities, nor any port in our country, nor Georgia’s potential in the Middle Corridor will ever be in the hands of their agents. Accordingly, sooner or later they will have to talk to us”, he concluded.