Passage of the controversial bill may drive a wedge between Tbilisi and Brussels and pave the way for a rapprochement with Russia.

Rapid geopolitical change is curtailing Russian power in the South Caucasus, boosting the influence of Middle Eastern countries and bookending the region’s “post-Soviet” history.

The announcement of EU candidate status is both a boon for Georgia and a geopolitical challenge, given possible retaliation from Russia.

As Russia’s influence wanes along its southern borders, the South Caucasus and Central Asia are becoming increasingly connected—a process that could pave the way for the emergence of a new bridge between the EU and China.

With Western powers distracted by the war in Ukraine, China appears to be making cautious moves to cement its position in the wider Black Sea region.

As the war in Ukraine grinds on, the notoriously troubled relationship between Georgia and Russia has, to the surprise of many, entered a new period of increased stability.