Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Friday said that ambassadors stationed in unspecified countries were currently “left without practical work” due to strained diplomatic ties “stemming from Georgia’s refusal to join the war in Ukraine.”
Speaking at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Kobakhidze reiterated Tbilisi’s “commitment to peace and economic cooperation”, while addressing what he described as a challenging multipolar world order.
He participated in the panel titled Partnership in a Multipolar Era, where he outlined Georgia’s foreign policy vision and emphasized the country’s “economic progress.”
“In February 2022, Georgia was twice asked to join the Russia-Ukraine war,” Kobakhidze claimed, without naming the countries involved or providing further evidence. “Diplomacy could not help us then, and we had to engage in a very intense political struggle to protect Georgia’s national interests and preserve peace.”
He also said the political fallout had impacted relations with certain states to the extent that Georgian ambassadors in those countries now lack meaningful diplomatic engagement.
“In some specific countries, Georgian ambassadors are left without practical work. Because at this stage it is impossible to communicate with these countries,” he said. “They often complain. But we always tell them that we should wait for peacetime.”
Despite the diplomatic tensions, Kobakhidze insisted that Georgia’s foreign policy remained focused on deepening partnerships globally, especially in economic terms.
He pointed to Georgia’s network of 50 free trade agreements, including deals with the European Union, China, the UAE, and countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
Highlighting Georgia’s economic achievements, he cited a 9.4% average GDP growth rate since 2021, calling it the highest in both the region and Europe.
The Prime Minister also reaffirmed Georgia’s commitment to EU membership. “We have certain challenges in this direction, but we hope that with the restoration of peace around us, especially in Ukraine, Georgia’s path to European integration will become more intense.”
He noted that despite having no formal diplomatic ties with Russia, Georgia maintained economic and trade relations with Moscow. “Even in this situation, we follow a very peaceful and pragmatic vision,” he said, referencing the continued occupation of 20% of Georgian territory by Russia.
Kobakhidze concluded by underlining Georgia’s role as a “bridge between East and West” and stressed the importance of working with regional partners like Turkey to ensure stability in the South Caucasus.
