Parliament official says Georgia seeks to restore, deepen strategic relationship with US

David Matikashvili, an MP from the ruling Georgian Dream party and Chair of the Georgian Parliament’s Committee on Procedural Issues and Rules, on Wednesday expressed Georgia's readiness to restore and enhance its strategic relationship with the United States, emphasising the need for mutual benefits and a comprehensive roadmap for cooperation.

In his interview with Imedi TV, Matikashvili said that Georgia was prepared for a reboot in relations with the United States, after what he described as the unilateral and unjustified termination of the strategic relationship by the previous United States administration.

“We have repeatedly said that we are a small country and cannot do much in this regard, but we are absolutely open and transparent. We are ready not only to restore the strategic relationship that the United States unilaterally and unjustifiably terminated without any arguments, but also to take advantage of a new roadmap and further deepen our relations beyond what they were before. All the necessary resources for this exist. However, this cannot be a one-sided process”, the Parliament official said.

Matikashvili emphasised that the relationship should not be one-sided, noting that while Georgia had supported the United States-led missions, it had not received adequate benefits such as visa-free travel, direct flights, or free trade agreements.

The recent meeting between Georgia's First Deputy Prime Minister Levan Davitashvili and the United States Ambassador to Georgia Robin Dunnigan was seen as a sign of growing cooperation, though Matikashvili also pointed out the broader context of political developments under Donald Trump's administration and concerns about the deep state.