Georgian leader responds to US criticism: Time to reboot relations with America

Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili said he was satisfied with the diplomatic tone taken by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in his recent remarks on Georgia, but reiterated the necessity of resetting relations between Tbilisi and Washington.

Speaking to Georgian media, as reported by Caliber.Az, Kavelashvili commented on Rubio’s first public statement regarding Georgia since the new Trump administration took office. Rubio, responding to a question from Congressman Joe Wilson during a congressional hearing, said that Washington was considering possible measures against Georgia’s leadership. He also referred to the current Georgian government as “anti-American.”

“Today and yesterday, there were speculations related to Rubio, in the context of Joe Wilson’s question,” Kavelashvili noted. “When he gave his answer, the existing position also emerged—it is the position of the United States. At this moment, they are operating in a completely different mode.”

Kavelashvili suggested that broader international circumstances should be taken into account, pointing to major ongoing global crises. “There are several specific challenges the entire world is watching closely,” he said, “including the war in Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, tariff issues, challenges related to the European Union, and so on.”

Despite the critical tone in Rubio’s remarks, the Georgian president emphasised that the administration in Washington is ultimately acting according to its own strategic interests. “The Trump administration is acting from the standpoint of US interests,” Kavelashvili stated.

By Tamilla Hasanova