Georgia | Council on Foreign Relations

Georgia

The Dangers of Democratic Backsliding in Georgia

Georgia was once a beacon of democracy in the South Caucasus, but today it is backsliding toward authoritarianism and headed back into Russia's sphere of influence.

Article by Liana Fix and Caroline Kapp June 21, 2023 Diamonstein-Spielvogel Project on the Future of Democracy
Diplomacy and International Institutions

U.S. Assumes UNSC Presidency, Intelligence Report Investigates Khashoggi Killing, and More

The United States assumes the presidency of the UN Security Council, with Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield newly confirmed as the U.S. permanent representative to the United Nations; the U.S. intelligence community releases a report on the Jamal Khashoggi killing; and a political crisis deepens in the country of Georgia.

Podcast with James M. Lindsay and Robert McMahon February 25, 2021 The World Next Week
Georgia

A Conversation With President Salome Zourabichvili of Georgia

VERSHBOW: Good morning, everyone. Welcome to today’s meeting of the Council on Foreign Relations with President Salome Zourabichvili of the Republic of Georgia. I’m Alexander Vershbow. I’m Alexander …

Event with Salome Zourabichvili September 27, 2019

Women and Women's Rights

Women This Week: Gender Progress in Georgia

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post, covering November 29 to December 5, was compiled with support from Rebecca Turkington and Ao Yin.

Blog Post by Rachel B. Vogelstein December 6, 2018 Women Around the World
Georgia

Renewed Confrontation in Georgia

Introduction Although the likelihood of a full-blown war between Russia and Georgia is low, one cannot rule out renewed confrontation between the two countries in the next twelve to eighteen month…

Contingency Planning Memorandum by David J. Kramer March 17, 2016 Center for Preventive Action
Georgia

A Conversation With Giorgi Margvelashvili

Giorgi Margvelashvili discusses tensions with Russia as well as Georgia’s relationship with NATO, the European Union, and the United States.

Event with Giorgi Margvelashvili September 29, 2015

Georgia

Georgia’s New Leader Looks West

Billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, whose party won last week’s parliamentary elections in Georgia, will forge a foreign policy based on pragmatism, not ideology, says RFE/RL’s Elizabeth Fuller.

Interview with Elizabeth Fuller and Bernard Gwertzman October 10, 2012
Ukraine

Delivering Tough Love to Ukraine, Georgia

Veteran Eurasia expert Steven Pifer says Vice President Joseph Biden’s trip to Ukraine and Georgia was meant to balance President Barack Obama’s Moscow summit earlier in the month, but in both countries, Biden had to convey tough messages.

Interview with Steven Pifer and Bernard Gwertzman July 23, 2009
Ukraine

NATO Foreign Ministers Unlikely to Push Georgia, Ukraine Membership

Robert E. Hunter, who was U.S. ambassador to NATO during the Clinton administration, says he does not expect NATO foreign ministers to enlarge the alliance to include Georgia or Ukraine at the next meeting in December.

Interview with Robert E. Hunter and Bernard Gwertzman November 24, 2008
Russia

Hunter: Russia is Long Run ‘Loser’ in Georgia Conflict

Robert E. Hunter, a former U.S. Ambassador to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, says Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili miscalculated by sending troops into South Ossetia in mid-August, but in the end, "Russia is the loser here."

Interview with Robert E. Hunter and Bernard Gwertzman September 3, 2008
Georgia

Russia’s Offensive in Georgia a Signal to NATO to Stay Away from Its ’Space’

F. Stephen Larrabee, an expert on NATO and Eastern Europe, says Russia’s invasion of Georgia was an effort to limit "Western influence into the former Soviet space."

Interview with F. Stephen Larrabee and Bernard Gwertzman August 25, 2008
Security Alliances

Solving the Crisis in the Caucasus

As global leaders scramble to find a solution to the Russia-Georgia conflict, five experts weigh in with possible solutions.

Expert Roundup by Greg Bruno, Dmitri Trenin, Rajan Menon, Ariel Cohen, Charles A. Kupchan and Alan Mendoza August 14, 2008
Georgia

Georgia-Russia Clash: A ‘Bump’ or ‘Fork’ in Road?

Stephen Sestanovich, CFR’s top Russia expert,says the fighting between Georgia and Russia is more a “war” than a “conflict,” and could have far-reaching consequences.

Interview with Stephen Sestanovich and Bernard Gwertzman August 11, 2008
Russia

Fuller: Russia May be Seeking ‘Joint State’ of Abkhazia-Georgia

Elizabeth Fuller, an expert on Georgian affairs, says Russia may be promoting joint states as a solution to some frozen conflicts in its sphere of influence.

Interview with Elizabeth Fuller and Bernard Gwertzman April 24, 2008
Russia

Kupchan: NATO Summit Shows Growing Difficulties in Reaching Solidarity in Western Alliance

Charles A. Kupchan, professor of international affairs at Georgetown University, says the just-concluded NATO summit illustrates the changes taking place in the alliance, where it will become increasingly difficult to reach agreements on issues.

Interview with Charles A. Kupchan and Bernard Gwertzman April 7, 2008