PM Kobakhidze: Georgia remains in mode of ‘strategic patience’ with US

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Monday said Georgia continues to maintain a stance of “strategic patience” in its relations with the United States.

Speaking on Adjara TV’s programme Free Space, Kobakhidze reiterated that Tbilisi seeks to restore the strategic partnership with Washington “from a clean slate and with a clear roadmap”.

The Prime Minister said the Georgian Government is ready to consider any issues related to this process. However, he noted that so far they observe “passivity” from the US side.

“We will see who prevails - the informal governance that has enjoyed full, total influence over the United States for the past four years, similar to the influence it still holds over the EU today, or whether the informal managers will continue to have the upper hand regarding Georgia. In that case, nothing may change”, Kobakhidze said.

He added that if a new US administration prevails in what he described as this internal confrontation, Georgia may see positive developments.

“We are patiently waiting for all this to unfold and hope that, ultimately, the subjective interests of the American people will overcome informal governance,” the Prime Minister stated.