Georgia’s political and civil society are grappling with renewed questions about why the country was not invited to the recent NATO summit in Turkey, nor to related regional political and security events. This exclusion, which saw countries like Qatar, the UAE, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Australia, and Ukraine participating, marks the first time Georgia, a former key NATO partner, was not included in the official summit program or accompanying forums.
For years, Georgia has consistently prioritized its EU and NATO aspirations as national strategies. However, its absence from the alliance’s agenda this time has prompted a debate over whether the nation has lost political influence or relevance on the international stage.
Representatives from Georgia’s ruling party, Georgian Dream, have dismissed accusations of political isolation. MP Irakli Kirtskhalia stated that the summit in Ankara did not feature the types of meetings Georgia typically attends and suggested inquiries about the absence should be directed to the organizers. Meanwhile, the Georgian Foreign Ministry indicated that Foreign Minister Maka Bochorishvili would attend a separate event in Turkey called “Allies in Ankara,” which is part of the Munich Security Conference. Bochorishvili described this alternative event as an important opportunity for Georgia to present its positions and regional role.
Opposition figures have voiced strong criticism. Grigol Gegelia, a representative of the Lelo party, highlighted that for the first time in Georgia’s history, the country is not represented at the NATO summit itself. Political analyst Paata Zakareishvili claimed that the lack of an invitation to NATO’s regional security discussions signifies a loss of trust from Georgia’s partners. He suggested that Georgia is perceived as an unreliable, vulnerable, and potentially toxic state, with concerns that information shared might be passed to Russia.
Zakareishvili further commented that Georgia should have been an honored guest, given its strategic importance in the Black Sea and Caucasus regions. He added that Georgia is no longer being considered in key international discussions, failing to meet the necessary conditions for inclusion in groups it should belong to.
Levan Dolidze, Georgia’s former ambassador to NATO, stated that the country is effectively in confrontation with its former strategic partners, which is negatively impacting relations with NATO and the EU. He warned that a foreign policy leading to international isolation is causing significant harm to national interests. Dolidze recalled a time when Georgia was NATO’s most valuable partner, a status he believes is now in question, attributing Georgia’s absence at the summit to the alliance’s agenda. He emphasized that Georgia’s exclusion from discussions within the European Union is even more damaging.
The article also touches upon Georgia’s EU accession process, noting that Prime Minister Kobakhidze paused discussions until 2028 after the October 2025 general elections, citing “blackmail and manipulation” from some EU politicians. Although a thaw in relations with the EU had opened a path to renewed negotiations, the process has reportedly lost momentum in the last six months. Kobakhidze has positioned Georgia as a bridge between Europe and Asia and a transit hub for energy connectivity, particularly with Azerbaijan, in the context of its EU accession bid.
Recent diplomatic engagements include Kobakhidze’s encounter with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and French President Emmanuel Macron at the EPC summit in Yerevan in May, where he reaffirmed Georgia’s readiness for close cooperation. Kobakhidze also recently claimed Georgia leads EU candidate countries in economic progress and highlighted the strengthening of transit and connectivity systems as a key priority. A new agreement on electricity supply and transit between Georgia and Azerbaijan was also announced.
Separately, Georgia banned a large shipment of flowers from Armenia, citing non-compliance with phytosanitary regulations. This decision by Georgian authorities mirrors a series of similar economic restrictions imposed by the Russian Federation on Armenian exports following Yerevan’s pro-Western shift.
In turn, Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili travelled to Tehran to attend the funeral of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, alongside a small number of other regional leaders.
Tbilisi continued pressing on with regional defensive initiatives to diversify transport and energy routes and involve Georgia in major connectivity projects in the region.
