Georgia could be (in)formal capital of Greater Caucasus in  implementation of One Belt, One Road project

ArmInfo.The implementation of the ambitious "One Belt, One Road" project strongly dictates the involvement of the Caucasus countries, and Georgia can become the (in)formal capital of the Greater Caucasus, Russian expert Sergey Markedonov said as he spoke of Georgia's foreign policy in the context of China and a January visit to China by a Georgian delegation led by Irakli Kobakhidze. 

The expert stated that pro-government politicians and the media  approve of the actions of the "party and government," while the  opposition openly accuses the Georgian Dream of corruption and  betrayal of the Euro-Atlantic choice. In this vein, the political  scientist asked the question: does the January visit of Kobakhidze  and Co. to Beijing mean some kind of "turn" of Tbilisi to the East?

Markedonov noted that Georgian-Chinese relations began to actively  strengthen not yesterday or today, and back in 2015, China and  Georgia signed various documents on participation in the Silk Road  Economic Belt. According to him, six years ago, in January 2018, the  Free Trade Agreement between Georgia and the PRC came into force. As  a result, China became one of the three largest trading partners of  the Georgian state. Also noteworthy is Tbilisi's decision to  unilaterally cancel the visa regime for Chinese citizens.

"Why does China need Georgia? You can't escape geography. The  implementation of the ambitious project "One Belt - One Road"  strongly dictates the involvement of the Caucasus countries. Georgia  is the central part of the Caucasus region. It's for nothing that  during the time of the Russian Empire the governor was located in  Tiflis. As a result, and the secret of its transformation into the  (in)formal capital of the Greater Caucasus.

Why does the China need Georgia? It is extremely important for  Tbilisi that the territorial integrity of the Georgian state is  supported not only by the West and not only for the sake of  Euro-Atlantic unity, but as an international legal principle. In this  regard, references to Chinese opinion, according to politicians from  Georgia, should work," noted the Russian expert, who also believes  that now is a convenient political moment for a visit to Beijing.

In this regard, Markedonov drew attention to the fact that on the eve  of the New Year celebrations, Tbilisi received the coveted "candidate  status" for membership in the European Union.

"In Brussels, after the Chinese voyages of the Georgian leadership,  they clearly will not change their minds and enter into squabbles  with the Georgian leadership. Successism needs to be fed, and for  goodness sake, you can provoke a "Eurasian bias" in Tbilisi with your  own hands. And, of course, China is not Russia.  Yes, it is a key  opponent of the United States and the EU and an ally of the Russian  Federation. But, at the same time, it is also the most important  trading partner of the "collective West", and a champion of the  principles of indivisible borders and territorial integrity. It will  be difficult for critics to blame the Georgian authorities for  indulging in "aggressive separatism." 

And last (in order, but not least). "Small countries" do not want to  make "the final geopolitical choice." Many domestic commentators are  keen to talk about the need for this, but life is not a scheme. And  in reality, those who are deprived of powerful military force and  abundant economic resources drift, maneuver and balance," the expert  believes.

According to him, even in this process, these countries do not think  about the discrepancy between their drift and the "high" aesthetic  standards of the politicians of the "great powers".

"Georgia is no exception here. And therefore there is only one lesson  here. The current Georgian government is inclined to pragmatism,  while the "collective Saakashvili" is far from a fact. And therefore,  from opponents of the "dreamers" we will still hear many alarmist  forecasts about the "Chinese threat." Not just the Russian threat!",  concluded Markedonov.