Russia has once again offered warm words to Tbilisi, with Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova praising Georgia's efforts to safeguard its sovereignty and saying Moscow is ready to deepen ties.
The remarks come as much of the wider South Caucasus appears to be moving in the opposite direction.
Speaking at a briefing in Moscow, Zakharova said Russia understood Tbilisi's efforts to end what she called external diktat and engage with foreign partners on equal terms. She added that Moscow was ready to expand cooperation with Georgia, describing the relationship as one of the key drivers of the country's economic growth, and insisted these intentions were genuine.
The comments are far from new. Kremlin officials have repeatedly praised the Georgian government's policies in recent years, often pointing to booming trade and tourism links between the two countries as evidence that practical cooperation can continue even without formal diplomatic relations, which were severed after the 2008 war.
Tbilisi, for its part, has remained silent in response to such statements. The ruling party has avoided directly addressing Moscow's praise while continuing to emphasise the importance of careful, balanced diplomacy with Russia. Officials have cited economic ties as one reason Georgia did not join Western sanctions imposed following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, arguing that doing so risked opening what they describe as a second front and drawing the country into a wider confrontation it cannot afford.
That position places Georgia in an increasingly unusual position. Since the war in Ukraine began, the South Caucasus has been viewed by many in the West as a region with a rare opportunity to reduce Russian influence, and Georgia's neighbours appear to be moving in that direction.
Azerbaijan and Armenia have made significant progress in a long-stalled peace process, while Armenia has moved decisively towards the West. In May, Yerevan signed a comprehensive strategic partnership charter with the U.S., alongside a framework agreement on the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity.
That shift was reinforced this week by Armenia's parliamentary election, in which Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's pro-European party secured a clear victory despite what officials described as Russian pressure ahead of the vote.
The result is widely seen as a sign of Armenia's continued pivot towards the EU and Washington, even as Moscow reportedly threatened to cut favourable energy supplies if Yerevan pressed ahead with EU accession.
Against that backdrop, Russia's continued praise for Georgia, and Tbilisi's continued silence in response, stand out. Whether Georgia's approach reflects pragmatic balancing or a deeper alignment with Moscow remains a matter of debate among analysts and within Georgian society itself, but the contrast with its neighbours is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
Pakistan says it has killed 26 militants in strikes on terrorist hideouts along the Afghan border, marking the most significant escalation between the...
Canada’s Privacy Commissioner has found that xAI’s Grok chatbot and its parent company X Corp. violated federal privacy law by launching an AI ima...
China's foreign ministry announced on Thursday that it had imposed sanctions on Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and his immediate family...
The United States launched overnight strikes on military targets across Iran, as President Donald Trump warns of further attacks unless a peace deal i...
Conditions of a climate pattern El Niño have officially developed and are expected to strengthen through the Northern Hemisphere winter of 2026-27,...
Canada’s Privacy Commissioner has found that xAI’s Grok chatbot and its parent company X Corp. violated federal privacy law by launching an AI image-generation tool without adequate safeguards, enabling the creation and distribution of non-consensual sexualised deepfakes.
China's foreign ministry announced on Thursday that it had imposed sanctions on Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and his immediate family, accusing him of repeatedly making remarks that undermined China's "legitimate interests" and bilateral relations.
The United States launched overnight strikes on military targets across Iran, as President Donald Trump warns of further attacks unless a peace deal is reached. Iran responded by targeting U.S. bases in the Gulf and announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Conditions of a climate pattern El Niño have officially developed and are expected to strengthen through the Northern Hemisphere winter of 2026-27, according to the U.S. Climate Prediction Center. The forecast raises concerns of extreme weather, agricultural issues and record global temperatures.
Mexico and South Africa meet in Thursday’s World Cup opener in Mexico City, with both teams approaching the match from very different positions but facing their own pressures.
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry says 19 citizens have been repatriated following a deadly drone attack on two cargo ships in the Sea of Azov on 5 June.
The Pakistani city of Karachi is struggling under severe heat and humidity as the country enters a prolonged heatwave period. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has warned of above-normal temperatures across much of the country between 7 and 12 June.
Ukraine's military said it struck a Russian "shadow fleet" tanker in the Black Sea as part of ongoing efforts to disrupt Moscow's energy and logistics networks. The move underscores Kyiv's focus on targeting maritime assets it says are used to bypass sanctions on Russian oil exports.
U.S. forces say they have completed strikes on Iranian military sites near the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded with missile attacks on an American base in Jordan, marking a sharp escalation in tensions between the two sides.
Azerbaijan dispatched 17 railway wagons carrying 984 tonnes of diesel fuel to Armenia on Thursday, marking the latest shipment in growing trade between the two countries.
The U.S. is deepening engagement with Central Asia on critical minerals as global competition for strategic resources intensifies. The issue dominated talks in Astana between Washington and the five Central Asian states.
Israel's cabinet is expected to approve a plan on Thursday (11 June) to allocate around one billion shekels ($338 million) for settlement development in the West Bank, according to reports and anti-settlement campaigners.
India is expected to receive below-average rainfall over the next two weeks, particularly across central and northern regions, as weather systems known as western disturbances slow the advance of the annual monsoon, senior weather officials said.
A prominent Palestinian doctor detained by Israel for more than 500 days appeared by video link before Israel's Supreme Court on Wednesday (10 June), marking the first time he has been seen publicly since February, according to rights groups.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment