FM Botchirishvili: "Achieving security and stability in EU will be difficult without Georgia"

“Without Georgia, achieving lasting security and stability in Europe will be difficult,” declared Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchirishvili during her address at the 2025 Dubrovnik Forum in Croatia. Her remarks, released in a statement by the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, highlighted the country’s pivotal role in ensuring regional and continental stability amid deepening geopolitical tensions.

Speaking at a high-level panel discussion titled “Connecting Europe and Asia: A Path to Partnership and Prosperity,” Botchirishvili stressed Georgia’s strategic value as a vital link between East and West. She pointed to the Middle Corridor — a transport and trade route connecting Central Asia with Europe via Georgia — as a key instrument for enhancing resilience, energy security, and economic integration.

“We have enormous potential and are actively working on developing the Middle Corridor in close cooperation with Central Asian and Eastern countries,” she said. “This is crucial not only for Europe but for our broader region.”

Botchirishvili also cited Georgia’s internationally recognized economic reforms and stability, which she said reflect its readiness for deeper integration with the European Union. “Our economic freedom, open markets, and strong business climate have made Georgia a model of development and reform,” she noted. “This progress is essential for our European future.”

The Georgian foreign minister emphasized that her country is firmly anchored in Europe — not just geographically, but by its values, history, and aspirations. “Georgia is a European country with a deeply rooted European identity and centuries-old aspirations toward integration with the EU,” she said.

Turning to security concerns, Botchirishvili reiterated that Russia’s continued occupation of Georgian territory remains the most pressing threat to national and regional stability. She urged the international community to assess Georgia’s situation objectively and to recognize its strategic contribution to Europe's peace architecture.

The Dubrovnik Forum, held July 11–12 and hosted by Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić-Radman, gathered foreign ministers, political leaders, academic experts, and senior officials from across Europe and beyond. Discussions focused on regional and global challenges, shifting geopolitical dynamics, and new avenues for international cooperation.

During her visit, Minister Botchirishvili also held bilateral meetings with her counterparts, further reinforcing Georgia’s diplomatic engagement in support of its Euro-Atlantic ambitions.