Contemporary History of Georgia’s Geopolitical Transformation from the West to Russia

The presented article analyzes the impact of the Russian-Ukrainian war on Georgia's foreign policy, focusing on how this prolonged conflict has influenced regional dynamics and shaped the behavior of the Georgian government.It highlights the strong correlation between the intensification of the Russian-Ukrainian war and the European Union's increased engagement in the Eastern Partnership region, particularly toward the so-called "Associated Trio" -Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia.The article examines the broadening spectrum of opportunities for Georgia's deeper integration into the EU, including candidate status, enhanced financial assistance, and sectoral cooperation.However, it also critically evaluates the Georgian government's inability or unwillingness to capitalize on these favorable geopolitical conditions.This failure is attributed to domestic political priorities, including the consolidation of power by the ruling "Georgian Dream" party, its dominant position within a one-party system, and its growing drift toward authoritarian governance.The article further explores the key narratives and strategic choices in Georgia's foreign policy, which increasingly emphasize alignment with illiberal, authoritarian regimes such as Russia, Iran, China, and Hungary, as well as right-wing Eurosceptic forces in Europe.This policy direction includes antagonizing official EU institutions and leveraging diplomatic tools to obstruct decisions contrary to the interests of the ruling elite.In light of the recent elections, organized and controlled by the ruling party and still lacking recognition from international partners, the Georgian Dream government has intensified efforts to gain legitimacy through foreign lobbying, signaling a new phase in its controversial multi-vector foreign policy.