The U.S. Department of State has announced the suspension of its strategic partnership with Georgia following the Georgian government’s decision to halt negotiations on joining the European Union until 2028.
According to the State Department’s statement, the ruling party "Georgian Dream" has chosen to pause the EU accession process, contradicting Georgia’s constitutional commitment to full integration with the EU and NATO. This move, the statement noted, undermines the prospect of closer ties with Europe and increases Georgia's vulnerability to Kremlin influence.
The statement also highlighted that the majority of the Georgian population supports European integration.
"The United States condemns the excessive use of force by the police against citizens seeking to exercise their rights to freedom of assembly and expression, including peaceful protests. We call on all parties to ensure that protests remain peaceful," the State Department emphasized.
In response, the U.S. has suspended its strategic partnership with Georgia.
“The anti-democratic actions of 'Georgian Dream' have violated the fundamental principles of the U.S.-Georgia strategic partnership, which is based on shared values and commitments to democracy, the rule of law, civil society, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as efforts to combat corruption. As a result, the United States has suspended this mechanism,” the statement reads.
The State Department urged the Georgian government to return to the Euro-Atlantic path, conduct transparent investigations into electoral violations, and repeal anti-democratic laws that restrict freedom of assembly and expression.
