By emphasising dignity, sovereignty, and national interest, Georgia seeks to navigate an increasingly multipolar and unstable international system. Whether this recalibration will enhance the country’s resilience or deepen its geopolitical vulnerabilities remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that Georgia has entered a new stage in which identity, pragmatism, and geopolitical calculation play a far more central role in shaping its strategic choices than in previous periods, writes Archil Sikharulidze.
Since the restoration of Georgia’s independence, its political development and foreign policy orientation have been profoundly shaped by its geopolitical environment and evolving national self-perception. Over time, the country has moved through distinct stages of political self-awareness, each reflecting changing assumptions about security, identity, values, and national interests.
Georgia’s trajectory illustrates a gradual transition from Euro-Atlantic idealism to a more pragmatic, identity-centred, and interest-driven approach. This evolution has not been linear; it emerged from accumulated experiences, external pressures, and internal political debates. The current phase, often described as “Georgianness”, represents a significant recalibration of Georgia’s strategic outlook amid intensifying regional and global instability.
In recent years, relations between Georgia and its Western partners have deteriorated markedly, entering a phase often characterised as a form of political and diplomatic confrontation, or even a “cold war”. Tensions with both the European Union and the United States have intensified, accompanied by mutual accusations and growing strategic distrust. Western actors have increasingly criticised Georgia for democratic backsliding, the spread of anti-Western narratives, the promotion of allegedly pro-Russian, pro-Iranian, and pro-Chinese discourses, assistance to Russia in circumventing international sanctions, and insufficient political solidarity with Ukraine.
From the Georgian perspective, these accusations have been perceived as politically motivated and detached from local realities. The ruling Georgian Dream party has demanded clearer explanations from Brussels and has sought to reset relations with Washington, particularly in anticipation of potential changes in US leadership. The formal termination of the strategic partnership between Georgia and the United States during Joe Biden’s presidency, coupled with perceived neglect during Donald Trump’s earlier term, deepened frustration
in Tbilisi. As a result, Georgia has pursued a policy of diversification, expanding cooperation with China, India, the South Caucasus, and Central Asia, while maintaining a balancing approach toward Russia and limiting its involvement in the Ukrainian conflict to humanitarian assistance.
The Evolution of Political Self-Awareness
Georgia’s contemporary geopolitical repositioning can be understood through a tripartite periodisation of political self-awareness: NATO/Europeanness (2004–2017), “Radical Europeanness” (2017–2024), and “Georgianness” (2022/2024–present). Each stage reflects
a distinct interpretation of Georgia’s identity and strategic priorities, as well as shifting assumptions about the relationship between values and geopolitics.
The first stage emerged in the aftermath of the Rose Revolution and was defined by the conviction that Georgia’s security, modernisation, and international legitimacy depended on integration into Euro-Atlantic institutions. Europeanness was framed not merely as a political choice but as an intrinsic aspect of Georgian identity, famously articulated in the assertion that being Georgian inherently meant being European.
During this period, NATO was perceived as the primary geopolitical counterbalance to Russia, and NATO membership became a central strategic objective. The 2008 Bucharest NATO Summit, which promised eventual membership without granting a Membership Action Plan, generated both hope and vulnerability. The subsequent Russian-Georgian war of 2008 shattered prevailing assumptions about external security guarantees and marked the collapse of many Euro-Atlantic illusions. In its aftermath, the NATO-centred narrative entered a period of crisis, prompting a strategic shift toward the European Union. The Association Agreement signed in 2014 and the introduction of visa-free travel in 2017 became tangible achievements symbolising this reorientation.
The second stage, often described as “Radical Europeanness”, was characterised by the ideological consolidation of European integration as the unquestioned strategic and normative foundation of the Georgian state. During this phase, European integration ceased to be one policy option among others and was instead elevated to the status of a moral and political absolute. The dominance of values over geopolitics became a defining feature of this period.
NATO-related discourse largely disappeared from mainstream political debates, while European integration was constitutionally enshrined through amendments adopted in 2018. Symbolic gestures reinforced this orientation, including the election of a president with deep personal and professional ties to Western Europe. At the same time, Georgia continued economic cooperation with Russia under a balancing policy, revealing a growing contradiction between ideological rhetoric and pragmatic necessity.
Political discourse during this period increasingly framed
dissent regarding the European integration agenda as illegitimate or even unlawful. Statements
by prominent public figures suggested that disagreement with the European path undermined one’s civic standing or legal protection. Such rhetoric reflected the radicalisation of Europeanness, narrowing political pluralism and transforming European integration into an ideological litmus test rather than a subject of democratic debate.
The most recent stage, described as “Georgianness”, has emerged in the context of the conflict in Ukraine, escalating tensions with Western partners, and the parliamentary elections of 2024. This phase marks a reassertion of national sovereignty, cultural identity, and strategic autonomy in Georgia’s political discourse. Rather than rejecting Europe outright, this approach seeks to redefine Georgia’s relationship with Europe on the basis of dignity, reciprocity, and national interest.
Within this framework, Georgia is portrayed as a European country with its own historical traditions and value system, particularly emphasising Orthodox Christianity as a core element of national identity. Economic diversification occupies a central place in this strategy, with increased engagement not only with Western states but also with Turkey, Russia, China, India, and Central Asian countries. This multidirectional approach reflects an effort to reduce dependency on any single geopolitical centre.
A defining feature of this stage is the explicit reintegration of geopolitics into domestic political decision-making. National interests are prioritised over abstract value alignment, and foreign policy choices are increasingly justified in pragmatic rather than ideological terms. Critics have characterised this shift as evidence of a pro-Russian turn; however, proponents frame
it as a necessary adaptation to a fragmented and competitive international environment.
Conclusion
Georgia’s geopolitical evolution illustrates a broader transformation in its political self-awareness. The transition from early Euro-Atlantic idealism to the normative absolutism of “Radical Europeanness”, and finally to the identity-driven pragmatism of “Georgianness”, reflects accumulated lessons drawn from both engagement with, and disappointment in, external actors. The current phase does not signify isolationism or a rejection of Europe but rather an attempt to recalibrate Georgia’s place within Europe on its own terms.
By emphasising dignity, sovereignty, and national interest, Georgia seeks to navigate an increasingly multipolar and unstable international system. Whether this recalibration will enhance the country’s resilience or deepen its geopolitical vulnerabilities remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that Georgia has entered a new stage in which identity, pragmatism, and geopolitical calculation play a far more central role in shaping its strategic choices than in previous periods.
The Valdai Discussion Club was established in 2004. It is named after Lake Valdai, which is located close to Veliky Novgorod, where the Club’s first meeting took place.
Please visit the firm link to site
