Georgian Parliament Speaker: time for US to recognise Georgia’s 30-year commitment to strategic partnership

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Thursday called on the United States to restore what he described as a “true strategic partnership” with Georgia, urging the new American administration to properly recognise and value the commitment Georgia had shown over the past 30 years.

“We have repeatedly said that we want a genuine strategic partnership - something we have demonstrated consistently to the American people for three decades. Now it’s time for the new US administration to properly acknowledge and appreciate that”, the Speaker noted.

He further highlighted there was ongoing communication with the new American administration, and Georgian officials were aware of Washington’s expectations.

Papuashvili emphasised that the damage done by the previous administration, under President Joe Biden, needs to be addressed.

“US-Georgia relations were damaged by the Biden administration, which strained ties with one of America’s most trusted partners - Georgia”, Papuashvili asserted.

“The former administration harmed the relationship with its own actions, trying to unseat the Georgian Government and undermining it by funding violent groups, propaganda networks, disinformation campaigns, and even attacks on the Georgian Church”, the Speaker continued.

He accused US funding sources of directly supporting groups that targeted Georgian religious
institutions and promoted “false ideologies” in the country.

“Where are those so-called NGOs now - the ones that were so loud in promoting LGBT propaganda? Why are they silent? Because they’re going against the interests of their funders. That’s why they’ve disappeared”, he said.

Papuashvili also pointed to Georgia’s significant military contributions to NATO operations.

“We were the fourth-largest contributor in Afghanistan, with 1,000–1,500 troops on the front lines. Some Baltic states, which now try to lecture us and push toward war, only had about 50 people in headquarters roles”, the Speaker noted.

He criticized the Biden administration for suspending the strategic partnership agreement with Georgia, calling it a “meaningless document” under the previous administration.

“Nothing in it was ever implemented - it became just an empty piece of paper. We are now in contact with the new US administration, and they are aware of our expectations: what the previous administration damaged must be repaired. And we are ready to do our part. We’ve said it many times - we want a true strategic partnership. After everything we’ve shown the American people over the last 30 years, it’s time that the United States also recognizes and values that”, Papuashvili concluded.