Tina Bokuchava, Chair of the United National Movement, stated that the visit of Peter Andreoli, a representative of the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, to Poti Port and Anaklia clearly signals that the deep-sea port of Anaklia is a priority for Washington.

She noted that this visit does not, in reality, serve any reset or restoration of strategic partnership between Georgia and the United States and cannot serve that purpose. However, it is important for Georgia to be able to extract the maximum benefit from all economic projects, especially when U.S. interests in the region are so strongly reinforced.

"Peter Andreoli’ visit to Poti Port and then to Anaklia naturally signals that [the deep-sea port of Anaklia] is a priority for Washington.

It is publicly known that he is meeting with the Minister of Economy and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. This should give the public a clear picture of the priorities of this visit.

In reality, it does not serve any reset or restoration of strategic partnership and cannot serve that purpose. However, it is important for us that Georgia can extract the maximum from all economic projects, especially when U.S. interests are so strongly reinforced in the region.

Unfortunately, this is not possible. The government is seized by a regime that does not serve the interests of the Georgian people or the U.S. national interests in the region and in relation to Georgia, but instead serves to strengthen Iranian, Chinese, and Russian influence in our country.

The construction of the deep-sea port in Anaklia should have been implemented with American investors’ involvement, but the Ivanishvili regime literally expelled them from Georgia. His strategic vision is: ‘Americans have no business in the Black Sea.’

By abandoning this project and replacing Americans with Chinese investors, another signal was sent that this is not regarded as a strategic partnership. Such a partnership has rules, which they do not want to follow."

Bokuchava also stated that Bidzina Ivanishvili communicates with partners not from Georgia’s national interest but from his personal financial interests:

"Generally, in dealings with Americans, Europeans, or the British — where he uses Achiko Gachechiladze as a ‘fixer’ to somehow avoid sanctions from the United Kingdom — he always acts not based on Georgia’s national interests, but solely on his personal financial interests."

For context, the Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Tamar Ioseliani, briefed Peter Andryols on the progress of the Anaklia deep-sea port project. According to the Ministry, the American delegation, together with Chargé d’Affaires Alan Persel, visited the site to review construction and mobilization works carried out by the Belgian company Jan De Nul.