What Trump’s recognition could mean for the Georgian government

The 28 February Oval Office incident has given the Georgian government a chance to break out of international isolation, or at the very least, an opportunity to justify its previous statements and finally establish dialogue with the new US administration.

Read more in an article by Amiran Khevtsuriani, founder of the Georgian-Ukrainian Center (Tbilisi), and Yurii Panchenko, European Pravda's editor – All hopes on Trump: how the Georgian government seeks approval from the US President.

Tbilisi issued its first statements just a day after the meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

"Once again, a clear line has been drawn between those who want peace and care about Ukrainians, and those who seek to fight to the last Ukrainian. It has also become evident that the 'global war party' and the 'Deep State' will not easily give up on war. I wish President Trump resilience and courage in this difficult struggle," said Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze.

Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze, who is sanctioned by the Ukrainian government, echoed this sentiment, stating that Trump had once again clarified who truly seeks war and who genuinely wants peace.

Why is Georgian Dream making such a bold pro-Trump move?

The answer is simple: a regime completely rejected by Europe is in dire need of recognition from the US administration, or at least a single social media mention from anyone in Trump’s circle. The key is for Georgian Dream to be referenced in a positive light.

Any such gesture could be framed domestically as international recognition and a "transatlantic" victory.

Beyond external validation, Georgian Dream also needs Washington’s recognition to suppress internal protests, which have continued for nearly 100 days without signs of abating.

The ruling party plans to crack down on protests through a new package of anti-democratic laws. However, the lack of signals from Trump is one of the few factors holding Georgian Dream back from escalating repression.

It has now been a month and a half, yet the US position on Georgia remains unchanged and for good reason.

One need only recall the images from Georgian Prime Minister Kobakhidze’s visit to Tehran last year for the funeral of Iran’s president. There, the Georgian leader stood alongside now-deceased Hamas and Hezbollah leaders, listening as Iranian MPs chanted: "Death to the US, death to Israel."

Despite these complications, Georgian Dream has not abandoned hope of gaining even a sliver of Trump’s attention.

This is why the Georgian government closely follows Trump’s conflicts, not only with Zelenskyy but with the entire West, waiting for the day when the US president will praise not just Putin, but also his Georgian allies.