Georgian Parliament Speaker says global shifts have undermined transatlantic partnership

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Monday said the current global reality clearly shows that the transatlantic partnership, as it once existed, has effectively disappeared, pointing to growing divisions within the European Union and major geopolitical shifts.

Speaking on Rustavi 2 TV channel's talk show Debates, Papuashvili noted that recent developments have made it evident what kind of world Georgia is living in today.

“I think it is now clearly visible what kind of world we live in. They talk about partners, transparency, and so on. We live in a world where the transatlantic partnership, as such, no longer effectively exists. We see the confrontations within the European Union. We see how geopolitics is changing globally”, the Speaker said.

Papuashvili emphasised that these trends had been felt as early as 2020 and became more apparent by 2022, reinforcing the rationale behind the transparency law.

“This law is geopolitical precisely because it was clear that this is a struggle for influence, an instrument and a tool for gaining influence over governments of other countries and over peoples - namely through foreign funding. That is exactly what this law was meant to expose”, he continued.

Calling for a realistic assessment of the current global environment, Papuashvili urged critics to acknowledge broader geopolitical dynamics.

“Let us look at modern reality and face it. Let us see not only the trees, but the forest, which is already clearly visible today”, he concluded.