Tbilisi will maintain ‘one-sided friendship’ with Europe until ‘Deep-State’ influence wanes, ruling party

The parliamentary majority leader, Irakli Kirtskhalia, said at a Georgian Dream briefing that the government will maintain a policy of "patience" toward Western diplomats and remain in a mode of “one-sided friendship” with European partners until, in his view, the alleged influence of a so-called “deep state” over European institutions subsided. 

Kirtskhalia on Tuesday framed the approach as a strategic choice intended to protect long-standing bilateral ties from being damaged by what he called undiplomatic behaviour by some ambassadors and EU bureaucrats. 

Kirtskhalia further told reporters the ruling party understood public anger over certain ambassadors’ statements and actions, but argued that calls to expel envoys would be counterproductive while ambassadorial appointments were effectively made by what he described as “Euro-bureaucracy” under the sway of the “deep state.” He said the current strains were temporary and predicted the deep-state influence in Europe will eventually weaken, a development he said would allow relations to return to a more normal footing. 

The majority leader further warned against allowing individual diplomats’ conduct to create a broader rupture in relations developed “over years” between Georgia and European states, saying expelling an ambassador would trigger diplomatic steps that could harm bilateral ties. He reiterated the government’s intent to shield Georgia from the spread of what he called foreign influence while preserving state-level relationships.