“Real Europe is different”: Georgian President cites US concerns over EU bureaucracy

Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili on Wednesday described the newly released US National Security Strategy as one of the most significant and resonant topics of recent weeks, emphasising that the document outlines sharply different perspectives across multiple areas and carries particular importance for Georgia.

In his interview with POSTV channel, Kavelashvili noted that many of the concerns Georgia has long raised with European institutions are now directly reflected in Washington’s assessments.

He further emphasised that the US strategy delivers an unusually direct message to the European Union, warning that if current trends continue, Europe faces the threat of “erasure” - both in terms of political influence and its foundational values.

“The most urgent topic of recent times is the National Security Strategy of the United States, which presents completely different views across various fields. It is important for us because it addresses precisely the issues we have been pointing out and asking the European bureaucracy to acknowledge in recent years. The document contains a much stricter message towards the European Union - stating directly that if it continues this way, Europe and European values will face the threat of erasure”, the President said.

He explained that the United States National Security Strategy outlined a broad range of challenges facing the EU, including political instability, migration pressures, identity-related tensions, declining economic performance, and a crisis of legitimacy among political leaders.

“The European bureaucracy is going through a very difficult period. The issues listed include: political crisis, migration, identity, national interests, and most importantly, the economy - which has declined from 25% to 14% of global output since the 1990s; governmental crises; the legitimacy of politicians in the eyes of the public, and many other alarming components”, he noted.

The document also reflected changing US views on Russia and China, and, according to Kavelashvili, its focus on national interests, security, and economic development aligns with Georgia’s recent policy orientation.

“The document also presents entirely different views regarding Russia, and relations with China are assessed differently as well. A few years ago, we began pursuing a policy based on national interest, our own security, and the economy - these are exactly the same priorities from America’s perspective. Domestic policy topics, industrialisation, fighting crime, national interest, economic issues - these are areas where we are in alignment”, the President said.

He added that the US National Security Strategy was not a spontaneous message towards the European Union but a clear outline of the problems the EU faces from the US current point of view.

“For us, Europe is not today’s EU bureaucracy. Europe is something different - a different set of values - and the US document speaks precisely about the danger of losing those values. We have never been this strict”, Kavelashvili concluded.