Georgian FM highlights Gov’t’s readiness to reboot, strengthen ties with US

Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili on Monday said the Georgian Government was determined to restore and deepen its strategic partnership with the United States, aiming to give the relationship new substance and direction, emphasising that Tbilisi seeks to revitalise and reboot bilateral relations in a positive context and will do everything necessary to achieve that.

In her interview with Rustavi 2 TV channel, Botchorishvili noted that the Georgian Government’s stance has been expressed publicly on numerous occasions.

“We deeply regret that under the Biden administration, Georgian-American relations have reached their current point. Naturally, Georgia has the desire and readiness to improve these relations and ensure their positive reset. However, this period has also been marked by harsh rhetoric - perhaps not directly from the State Department or the highest levels, but from other actors - which has caused concern within Georgian society”, she said.

The Minister referred to discussions surrounding the so-called MEGOBARI Act and related statements, as well as what she described as "[Congressman Joe] Wilson’s active social campaign against Georgia”.

She further highlighted that the MEGOBARI Act was no longer being considered and emphasised that despite its name, “it had nothing to do with friendship”.

“We have repeatedly said that such an act cannot serve as the foundation of Georgian-American relations. Currently, it is not under discussion, and there are no visible attempts to reintroduce it in any form. What is important for us now is to have clarity regarding the interests and approaches that Washington will pursue in its relations with Georgia”, Botchorishvili concluded.