A nation must think before it acts.
On the Fault Line: Georgian Relations with China and the West
Download On the Fault Line: Georgian Relations with China and the West
Executive Summary
Relations between Georgia and the People’s Republic of China have expanded as China engages with the wider Black Sea region. The bilateral relationship is mostly economic in nature, with Georgia participating in the Belt and Road Initiative and the two countries signing a free trade agreement in 2017. While deeper engagement with China carries potential risks of overdependence and democratic backsliding, Georgia’s partial integration with Euro-Atlantic structures serves to mitigate those risks. This report argues that an expanded Chinese presence has the potential to bring Georgia closer to the Euro-Atlantic space if its Western partners make renewed commitments within the paradigm of constructive competition with China. The United States and the European Union have both indicated a willingness to do so.
