ArmInfo.The implementation of the ambitious "One Belt, One Road" project strongly dictates the involvement of the Caucasus countries, and Georgia can become the (in)formal capital of the Greater Caucasus, Russian expert Sergey Markedonov said as he spoke of Georgia's foreign policy in the context of China and a January visit to China by a Georgian delegation led by Irakli Kobakhidze.
The expert stated that pro-government politicians and the media approve of the actions of the "party and government," while the opposition openly accuses the Georgian Dream of corruption and betrayal of the Euro-Atlantic choice. In this vein, the political scientist asked the question: does the January visit of Kobakhidze and Co. to Beijing mean some kind of "turn" of Tbilisi to the East?
Markedonov noted that Georgian-Chinese relations began to actively strengthen not yesterday or today, and back in 2015, China and Georgia signed various documents on participation in the Silk Road Economic Belt. According to him, six years ago, in January 2018, the Free Trade Agreement between Georgia and the PRC came into force. As a result, China became one of the three largest trading partners of the Georgian state. Also noteworthy is Tbilisi's decision to unilaterally cancel the visa regime for Chinese citizens.
"Why does China need Georgia? You can't escape geography. The implementation of the ambitious project "One Belt - One Road" strongly dictates the involvement of the Caucasus countries. Georgia is the central part of the Caucasus region. It's for nothing that during the time of the Russian Empire the governor was located in Tiflis. As a result, and the secret of its transformation into the (in)formal capital of the Greater Caucasus.
Why does the China need Georgia? It is extremely important for Tbilisi that the territorial integrity of the Georgian state is supported not only by the West and not only for the sake of Euro-Atlantic unity, but as an international legal principle. In this regard, references to Chinese opinion, according to politicians from Georgia, should work," noted the Russian expert, who also believes that now is a convenient political moment for a visit to Beijing.
In this regard, Markedonov drew attention to the fact that on the eve of the New Year celebrations, Tbilisi received the coveted "candidate status" for membership in the European Union.
"In Brussels, after the Chinese voyages of the Georgian leadership, they clearly will not change their minds and enter into squabbles with the Georgian leadership. Successism needs to be fed, and for goodness sake, you can provoke a "Eurasian bias" in Tbilisi with your own hands. And, of course, China is not Russia. Yes, it is a key opponent of the United States and the EU and an ally of the Russian Federation. But, at the same time, it is also the most important trading partner of the "collective West", and a champion of the principles of indivisible borders and territorial integrity. It will be difficult for critics to blame the Georgian authorities for indulging in "aggressive separatism."
And last (in order, but not least). "Small countries" do not want to make "the final geopolitical choice." Many domestic commentators are keen to talk about the need for this, but life is not a scheme. And in reality, those who are deprived of powerful military force and abundant economic resources drift, maneuver and balance," the expert believes.
According to him, even in this process, these countries do not think about the discrepancy between their drift and the "high" aesthetic standards of the politicians of the "great powers".
"Georgia is no exception here. And therefore there is only one lesson here. The current Georgian government is inclined to pragmatism, while the "collective Saakashvili" is far from a fact. And therefore, from opponents of the "dreamers" we will still hear many alarmist forecasts about the "Chinese threat." Not just the Russian threat!", concluded Markedonov.