PM welcomes ‘shift’ in US approach to Georgia

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Tuesday said the current US administration has adopted a different approach towards Georgia from its predecessor, particularly regarding opposition participation in parliament and bilateral relations.

Speaking to journalists, Kobakhidze claimed the previous US administration had encouraged opposition parties not to take up their parliamentary mandates following the 2020 and 2024 elections.

He claimed this contributed to political tensions and parliamentary boycotts, including the decision by several opposition parties not to enter parliament after the 2024 vote.

Kobakhidze said all political parties should respect the mandates granted to them by voters and argued that previous opposition boycotts were influenced by what he described as direct involvement from the former US administration and European institutions.

He welcomed what he called a change in attitude under the current administration, saying Washington's approach to such issues now differs from that of previous years.

The prime minister also said he had held “constructive discussions” with representatives of the US government and reiterated Georgia's readiness to reset strategic relations with the United States.

Kobakhidze said Tbilisi remained prepared to rebuild the partnership "from a clean slate" through a specific roadmap for cooperation.

He argued that one of the main obstacles to improving relations between the two countries had been what he described as the unfair policies of the previous US administration.

According to Kobakhidze, any renewal of the strategic partnership should be based on fairness, mutual respect and equal treatment.

"What was damaged by unfairness can only be repaired through a fair approach and relations based on mutual respect," he said.