Georgia's pro-Russian administration impedes progress in the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process, according to Gakharia's declaration.
In a significant development for the South Caucasus, Giorgi Gakharia, the leader of the Gakharia for Georgia party, has emphasised Georgia's geostrategic role as a crucial regional actor committed to peace, stability, and cooperation. This comes in the wake of the peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, although the agreement has not yet been officially ratified or implemented.
Gakharia views the peace deal as a historic step towards ending decades of conflict, which has harmed regional peace and prosperity. He believes that this agreement opens opportunities for stronger regional security and cooperation. The Georgian leaders have emphasised Georgia’s ongoing support for peace reinforcement and regional integration, viewing this as pivotal for long-term stability and prosperity in the South Caucasus.
Georgia's unique geostrategic location at the crossroads of Europe and Asia gives it a significant transit and connectivity potential. With improved stability in the region, this potential is expected to grow, enhancing Georgia's role in economic corridors and regional diplomacy. The peace deal and resulting regional cooperation could allow Georgia to move beyond a peripheral role, better integrating into emerging economic and energy transit routes that bypass traditional Russian and Iranian influence, reinforcing its pro-Western aspirations.
Gakharia congratulated Armenia, Azerbaijan, and their leaders—President Aliyev and Prime Minister Pashinyan—on "choosing peace." He frames the settlement as an opportunity for Georgia to assert itself as a constructive regional player contributing to open, stable, and Western-aligned development in the South Caucasus. This aligns with Georgia’s ongoing ambitions to strengthen ties with the EU and NATO and benefit from the region's evolving geopolitical dynamics.
However, Gakharia also expressed concern about the pro-Russian Georgian Dream, stating that it has left the country "isolated from progress and prosperity." The context or reasons behind this statement were not specified. It is unclear if this statement is a direct response to the peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Gakharia also noted the role of U.S. President Donald Trump in brokering the peace deal between Azerbaijan and Armenia. The potential impact of this agreement on Georgia or the broader region has not been discussed as of yet. It is important to note that the peace agreement has not been officially ratified or implemented at the time of this article.
Despite being sidelined, Gakharia is optimistic about Georgia's future. He believes that the country will inevitably take its rightful geostrategic place in the region's future. This belief is in line with his vision for Georgia to be part of President Trump's peace and prosperity framework for the South Caucasus.
Gakharia views the peace deal as an opportunity for stronger politics and general news cooperation in the South Caucasus, as it aligns with Georgia's aspirations to play a crucial role in war-and-conflicts resolution and regional stability. The potential impact of this agreement on Georgia's geostrategic location and its role in economic corridors and regional diplomacy is a subject of optimism for Gakharia.
