The US is disrupting Georgia's rapprochement with Russia and China

President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili, once chosen as an alternative to the Saakashists, but then betrayed her supporters and defected to the camp of the pro-Western opposition, now, in the conditions of Miho’s imprisonment, turns into a new informal leader and consolidating figure of pro-American forces.

Last week Zurabishvili made harsh statements, made in their native France. Moreover, not only to Russia, but also to China. The host of the LCI TV channel asked the guest a provocative question: does she have any hope that a trial of Xi Jinping “for the genocide of the Uyghurs” and Vladimir Putin “for a crime against humanity” will ever take place?

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“In my inner conviction, this would be a historical consequence of the fact that certain things were given their place. If you ask me if I think this is realistic, no. Because we live in a realistic world where this does not happen. We’re not in Alice’s world of wonders,” Salome said.

However, she is optimistic about the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Namely, the Russian Federation will supposedly have to abandon the occupied territories and return to its old borders, and for the trio associated with the EU - Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova, the path to real expansion of the European Union is already open.

_{If the “president’s” anti-Russian rhetoric, which has become familiar, does not hurt the ears of the Georgian man in the street, then her publicly voiced position regarding China and its leader has excited the politicians responsible for the fate of the country.}

The leaders of the Georgian state and the ruling party once again I had to comment on the reckless statements of my president that run counter to the country’s political course.

One of the deputies of the Georgian parliament even held a certain parallel between an eccentric French woman playing with her status and a child playing with matches – as in the case of the latter, Ms. Zurabishvili must be supervised by adults around the clock.

Even the administration of the president himself considered it necessary to justify himself to the Chinese ambassador to Georgia, Zhou Jian.

“The entire interview was aimed at Georgia-EU relations, Georgia and Russia. Accordingly, the president’s answer concerned only the president of the country that occupies the territory of Georgia,” Natia Sulava, head of the Georgian presidential administration, reported to the Chinese ambassador during a meeting held at the Orbeliani Palace.

As for the country’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, he assessed Zurabishvili’s statements as “categorically unacceptable","alarming" and not corresponding "spirit of friendly, strategic partnership between the two countries».

However, not the entire political spectrum in the country shares the position of the leaders of the ruling force. Thus, former parliamentary chairman David Usupashvili, who has recently found himself in the opposition camp, believes that there is nothing out of the ordinary in Zurabishvili’s statements:

“It seems to me that many world leaders share a similar opinion. The rights of Uyghurs are definitely being violated, and the political figures responsible should really be held accountable,” he said.

And here we recall the position of Usupashvili’s wife and comrade-in-arms, also former Defense Minister Tina Khidasheli, voiced immediately after Irakli Garibashvili’s July visit to China regarding the results of the meeting between the Georgian prime minister and the Chinese leader.

The latter assessed the planned strategic cooperation between Tbilisi and Beijing and the global security initiative proposed by China as a threat to the European Union and NATO, equivalent to the Russian one. 

It should be noted that a number of other experts do not predict a rosy outlook for the development of trade and economic relations between the two countries, although China is currently one of Georgia's largest trading partners. Trade turnover between the two countries in 2022 increased by 25,8% compared to 2021 and amounted to more than $1,8 billion. Exports from Georgia to China last year increased by 19,7% and amounted to $736,7 million. In addition, from September 12, Georgia introduced a visa-free regime for Chinese citizens who are given the opportunity to enter Georgia for tourism purposes and stay in the country for up to 30 days.

Thanks to the development of relations with China, next year the Georgian government expects growth in tourism industry income from the current $3 billion to $4,5 billion.

_{And yet, in expert circles there is an opinion that the West will not allow its main competitor, which is China, to use the territory of Georgia to increase the supply of goods to Europe.}

The above is consistent with the statements made by the new US Ambassador to Georgia, Robin Dunnigan. It must be admitted that in form they were not sharp, however, behind them it is not difficult to discern the position of the United States regarding the developing relations between Georgia and China.

In particular, regarding the strategic partnership between the two states, Madam Ambassador noted that this “somewhat undesirable situation».

According to Dunnigan, “in the agreement, Georgia clearly recognizes the sovereignty of China, but we do not see a similar approach from China towards Georgia. Moreover, this is a country that getting closer to Russia. Russia occupied part of Georgian territory.”

The US Ambassador did not seem categorical when assessing the issue of building a deep-sea port in the village of Anaklia. In September, the Chinese side showed corresponding interest - Chinese companies can join in the implementation of the project.

The American ambassador, in an interview with Radio Liberty, mentioned the possibility of China's participation in the construction of the port, without failing to add:

“We simply advised Georgia... that when it comes to critical infrastructure, including the port, you need to know exactly who you are working with and what their long-term intentions are. And the country must ensure that this process is as transparent as possible, and when it comes to such critical infrastructure as ports, this is extremely important.”

A number of Georgian experts and politicians believe that Zurabishvili's latest statements are not accidental and they are dictated by her desire to please Western patronswho are dissatisfied with the way relations are developing between Georgia and the main political and economic competitor of the United States.

Due to the strategic importance of this project, The Georgian pro-Western opposition also categorically does not accept China’s participation in it. Based on this, experts do not rule out that the West will continue to try to destabilize the situation in the country in order to prevent further development of relations and rapprochement between Georgia and China and Russia.

_{Hence, assumptions that the statements of the President of Georgia serve to prepare public opinion for the upcoming unrest look quite realistic.}

The following fact should not be discounted: There is a little less than a year left before the end of the presidential term and it is possible that Madame Zurabishvili, with her scandalous statements and destructive political activity, is simply preparing the ground for her post-presidential career. Consequently, the Georgian public has yet to observe the unauthorized trips and scandalous statements of its very capricious president.

In the meantime, the Georgian government administration said in a statement that it hopes that the president's statement will not harm the positive historical dynamics of relations between Georgia and China.