US intelligence: Russia almost certainly aims to return Georgia to its sphere of influence

The United States Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) has reported about increasing Russian influence in Georgia, according to its latest global threat assessment report.

In the 45-page document, released on Monday, Georgia is mentioned alongside other South Caucasus nations in a section titled “Russia’s Global Presence.” The report asserts that “Russia almost certainly aims to return Georgia to its sphere of influence. Since the parliamentary elections in October, the Georgia Dream-led government has created an environment that enables Russia to increase its influence in the country.”

Reacting to the report, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze dismissed the findings as “complete nonsense” during a press briefing on Tuesday. He claimed the report was influenced by what he referred to as the "deep state" - a term frequently invoked by the ruling Georgian Dream party to describe an alleged global conspiracy working against Georgia's sovereignty.

“What kind of influence are we talking about? The fact that such nonsense is being made in such important documents indicates the influence of the ‘deep state,’” said Kobakhidze.

The ruling party has in recent years promoted the idea of a so-called “Global War Party,” later rebranded as the “deep state,” which it accuses of attempting to destabilize Georgia and pressure it into foreign entanglements.

The DIA report also highlights deteriorating relations between Russia and Armenia. It noted that ties soured after Yerevan threatened to withdraw from the Moscow-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), prompting Russian information campaigns aimed at discrediting Armenia’s democratic reforms and its increasingly pro-Western orientation.