Georgia risks losing strategic role in South Caucasus, analyst

Giorgi Melashvili, founder of the European-Georgian Institute, has criticised the Georgian government's foreign policy, arguing that recent claims by the ruling Georgian Dream party about improving relations with the United States were not supported by developments on the ground.

Speaking on current regional dynamics, Melashvili said Georgia's transit role should have strengthened the country's strategic position, citing the planned Anaklia deep-sea port as a key competitive advantage.

However, he argued the government's anti-Western and anti-democratic policies have undermined Georgia's standing with its Western partners.

According to Melashvili, Armenia is increasingly emerging as the West's principal partner in the South Caucasus, a development he said runs counter to Georgia's national interests.

"We see that the main pillar for the West in the South Caucasus region is becoming Armenia rather than Georgia," Melashvili said. "This directly contradicts Georgia's national interest."

He also dismissed recent statements by Georgian Dream officials regarding a potential improvement in relations with Washington.

"The rhetoric we have heard from the Georgian Dream in recent months about restoring relations with the United States is clearly not based on reality," he said.