Ruling party MP outlines ‘realist’ foreign policy approach in parliament

A senior member of Georgia’s ruling party has called for a pragmatic, interest-based foreign policy, arguing that small states must adapt to a rapidly changing global order marked by shifting power balances and increasing geopolitical uncertainty.

Speaking in parliament on Tuesday, Archil Beridze, deputy chair of the Georgian Dream parliamentary faction, said the international system was undergoing major transformation and that states were increasingly driven by “realist” policies focused on national interests.

He said the so-called liberal world order was facing a crisis, pointing to evolving relations between global powers, including the United States, Europe and China, and suggesting that transatlantic ties had weakened in recent years.

Beridze also referred to ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, saying they demonstrated the high cost of geopolitical miscalculations and contributed to broader global instability affecting energy security and economic systems.

He argued that in such an environment, military and economic strength remained decisive factors in international relations, and that small states must act cautiously and strategically.

The MP said Georgia’s foreign policy was based on protecting sovereignty and national interests, and should avoid dependence on any single external actor.

He highlighted several policy decisions, including the adoption of transparency legislation and the establishment of strategic relations with China, describing them as part of a broader effort to diversify partnerships.

Beridze said Georgia’s geographic position and its role in regional transport and energy corridors gave it strategic importance, allowing it to act as a regional hub connecting Europe and Asia.

He concluded that, in a world dominated by competing great powers, smaller countries “can ensure their survival only by consistently prioritising their own national interests.”