Multivector strategy of Georgia in the context of geopolitical instability in the South Caucasus (1992–2003)

The article examines the multivector foreign policy of Georgia during the presidency of Eduard Shevardnadze (1992–2003) in the context of the complex geopolitical situation in the South Caucasus. During this period, the country faced numerous challenges, including ethnopolitical conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, economic difficulties, and the need for recovery after the collapse of the Soviet Union. In response to these challenges, Georgia pursued a balanced foreign policy strategy aimed at developing relations both with the West and with Russia. The article analyzes the key directions of Georgia’s foreign policy, including its attempts to integrate into Western international structures such as NATO and the European Union, while maintaining pragmatic relations with Russia, the traditional regional player. Shevardnadze employed a multivector approach to minimize dependence on any single external actor and to strengthen Georgia’s position in international affairs. The author highlights how this strategy affected the country’s internal and external stability, as well as its role in regional geopolitics. The article focuses on the complexities of implementing a multivector policy amid growing competition between global powers in the post-Soviet space.