Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has left a group of “in-between” European countries more vulnerable and insecure than ever before. This arc of instability spans from the South Caucasus through Moldova to the Western Balkans.
Widely viewed as the most powerful person in Georgia, billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili has announced a political comeback ahead of fall elections.
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.
Ahead of parliamentary elections due next year, anti-Russian sentiment is an increasingly potent mobilizing force in Georgian politics.
The announcement of EU candidate status is both a boon for Georgia and a geopolitical challenge, given possible retaliation from Russia.
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.
