The Embassy of Georgia recently hosted a joint discussion with the Wilson Center, where Georgian Ambassador to the U.S. David Zalkaliani discussed what to expect in the Black Sea region and the role that the U.S. and Georgia can play in enhancing regional peace and security.
Speaking with Ambassador Mark Green; the President, Director, and CEO of the Wilson Center; and Dr. William Pomeranz, Director of the Wilson Center’s Kennan Institute, the Ambassador highlighted the complex geopolitical background of the Black Sea region and Georgia’s own experiences.
Zalkaliani described the region as a microcosm of conflict management that Russia is seeking to dominate.
The Ambassador pointed to several developments that could make positive impacts in the Black Sea region for Georgia and the U.S.. He specifically highlighted new bipartisan legislation introduced by Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Mitt Romney that is designed to strengthen American cooperation with key Black Sea allies and partners, including Georgia, through increased military assistance and bolstering economic ties. Additionally, he welcomed the House of Representatives’ National Defense Authorization Act’s call to reassess ongoing security relationships to ensure they are adapted and funded at appropriate levels.
When asked on possible avenues of U.S.-Georgian economic cooperation in the Black Sea, Ambassador Zalkaliani stated that the U.S. should support Georgia’s role as a natural connector between West and East. This could be done, he said, by helping Georgia improve its transport and logistics connectivity to enhance access to Black Sea trade routes and the largely untapped markets of Central Asia. He also specifically promoted the establishment of a regional U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) office in Georgia.
On Georgia’s NATO ambitions, the Ambassador said that ‘more Georgia in NATO and more NATO in Georgia’ will strengthen Black Sea and Western security and reinforce Georgia’s democracy and growing economy. He concluded Georgia will continue to work closely with the U.S. and other NATO members to strengthen Black Sea security.