Georgian foreign policy and strategic culture in Black Sea trilateral cooperation

This portfolio examines the dualistic nature of Georgian foreign policy, which balances its Euro-Atlantic aspirations with pragmatic regional engagements, exemplified by the Turkey-Azerbaijan-Georgia (TAG) trilateral cooperation framework. The research addresses two central puzzles: first, how Georgian foreign policy navigates ideational aims with its significant security dilemmas; and second, the persistence of TAG cooperation despite divergent foreign policy trajectories among its member states. Drawing on four scholarly papers, the portfolio uses strategic cultural analysis to integrate an array of international relations theoretical perspectives to explore Georgia’s unique approach to foreign policy and international alignment. Through empirical analyses and case studies, as well as supplemental tests through elite interviews with senior Georgian policymakers and a case study of contemporary phenomena, the portfolio uncovers the mechanisms underpinning Georgian foreign policy and TAG’s resilience. The portfolio finds that Georgia’s strategic culture effectively mediates between ideational and material imperatives. This strategic cultural lens explains Georgia’s capacity for "selective compliance," whereby it aligns with Western norms where beneficial while accommodating regional dynamics when necessary. TAG cooperation exemplifies this balancing act, as it allows Georgia to advance shared regional interests in energy and security while simultaneously bolstering its Euro-Atlantic narrative. This research contributes to the fields of Georgian foreign policy, strategic culture, and trilateral cooperation, offering novel insights into small state security strategies and Black Sea regional dynamics. By highlighting the interplay of material and ideational factors in alignment, the portfolio advances a more nuanced understanding of how strategic culture shapes foreign policy in complex geopolitical environments.