Abstract

The relationship between Georgia and the West has grown increasingly strained. Georgian officials are under sanctions, while the Trump administration has remained largely silent. This article analyzes the U-turn in Georgia’s foreign policy trajectory from three perspectives: structural, regional, and elite/individual. Examining these variables allows observers to step back and view the broader picture. The article argues that China’s rise and its growing interest in the South Caucasus have created an opportunity for the Georgian government to diversify its foreign policy. At the regional level, the conflict in Ukraine has profoundly affected Georgia’s path toward the European Union, as the advent of mutual accusations has become a watershed event. Finally, the role of Bidzina Ivanishvili has been paramount in shaping Georgia’s strategic choices. The three-layered approach is thus proposed as a framework for understanding deviations in the country’s traditional foreign policy trajectory since independence, analyzing by analyzing three intervening variables.