Georgian President: South Caucasus should become model of stability and cooperation, not geopolitical confrontation

Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili on Thursday said that the transformation of the international order has accelerated since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, placing Georgia before serious challenges.

In his address at the 16th Tbilisi Regional Forum on Sustainable Development, Kavelashvili noted that the Georgian authorities had prevented five externally organised attempts to destabilise the country and overthrow the government over the past several years.

“Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, the transformation of the international order has accelerated even further, and Georgia has found itself facing severe challenges. It is enough to note that over the past few years, our government has thwarted five attempts, organised from abroad, to destabilise the country and carry out a coup d'état”, the President said.

He further stressed that, despite unprecedented domestic and external challenges, Georgia has not only maintained peace but also achieved sustainable economic growth.

“Despite unprecedented internal and external challenges, we have not only preserved peace but also ensured sustainable economic growth. Our society has managed to critically assess ongoing developments around the world, maintain an objective perception of events, and uncompromisingly defend its national interests”, he said.

Kavelashvili credited the vigilance and support of the Georgian people with helping the country begin what he described as a path toward true sovereignty.

“We fully understand that in a rapidly changing world, the path to survival lies in preserving peace and pursuing a balanced, multi-vector foreign policy. This is the solid foundation that ensures the country’s sustainable economic development. The future of the South Caucasus must also be built on these principles. Our region should become not a geopolitical battleground, but a model space for stability, trade and economic cooperation, peaceful coexistence, and dialogue among civilizations”, Kavelashvili continued.

Kavelashvili also underlined the importance of cultural identity and historical awareness in strengthening the country over the long term.

“Physical survival and economic progress alone are not enough. The long-term strengthening of our country is inconceivable without a profound understanding of our indigenous culture and rich history. Our past is the solid foundation upon which we must build a modern, strong, and sovereign state”, Kavelashvili said.

“I believe that, based on these values, the forum will become a productive platform for sharing new ideas and perspectives, helping our country and the region respond to existing challenges with dignity”, he concluded.