Georgia has consistently endeavored to transform the Black Sea into a bridge connecting it with the European Union. Today, we have real opportunities to achieve this goal; however, it requires proactive efforts and investments. Together, we can implement large-scale projects that will benefit Europe. Such a statement Georgia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs made during her speech at the panel discussion “Compete and Cooperate: Securing the Future”, held within the framework of the high-level international conference, the Raisina Dialogue.

Maka Botchorishvili emphasized that, for centuries, Georgia has served as a bridge connecting the East and the West. Since the era of the Silk Road, the country has played a significant role in ensuring this connection: “Georgia may be a small country in terms of defining geopolitical processes, but it is situated at a crossroads of geopolitical interests, which creates new opportunities. To take full advantage of these opportunities, wisdom and foresight are essential. First and foremost, it is important to acknowledge the challenges that Georgia faces in the current geopolitical environment, as well as the opportunities offered by its strategic location. For centuries, Georgia has played the role of a bridge between East and West. From the time of the Silk Road, our country has played a pivotal role in facilitating this connection. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, from the very first days of independence, Georgia began contemplating how to restore and strengthen this historical role in the modern world”.

The Foreign Minister further noted that, thanks to close cooperation with neighboring countries - Azerbaijan and Turkey - as well as the support of strategic partners, numerous significant projects have been implemented.

“Even after decades, these projects remain highly relevant due to their immense potential for enhancing European security. These initiatives are particularly significant in the context of connectivity in sectors such as energy, transportation, and beyond”, - said Maka Botchorishvili.

As she highlighted, Georgia has long strived to transform the Black Sea into a unifying bridge with the EU rather than a dividing barrier: “Today, we have real opportunities to achieve this goal, but it requires active engagement and investment. Together, we can implement large-scale projects that will benefit the EU and Europe as a whole. We consider ourselves part of Europe, and therefore, European security issues directly affect us. In this context, it is crucial to recognize the vast potential that exists towards the East, which can yield benefits for the entire European region”.

During the panel discussion, Maka Botchorishvili elaborated on the prospects of the Middle Corridor, emphasizing its development as a key priority for the Georgian government: “The Middle Corridor presents vast opportunities, and its development is one of our top priorities. We are prepared to invest in infrastructure projects and fully utilize the potential these initiatives offer to Georgia. The energy and transportation connectivity of the Black Sea-Caspian region, along with numerous ongoing and prospective projects involving Georgia, will bring significant benefits to our region”.

In her speech, the Foreign Minister also addressed the importance of peace and security, noting that two regions of Georgia remain under occupation, posing serious security challenges. She underscored that economic development and the implementation of proper reforms are the key responses to these challenges.

“Particularly noteworthy are the critical factors of peace and security. I am referring to a small but highly dynamic region - the South Caucasus. Georgia has always supported and facilitated the efforts of its neighbors, Armenia and Azerbaijan, and we are pleased that they have found a path toward peace and announced a peace agreement, which is of utmost importance for the entire region. However, two regions of Georgia remain under Russian occupation, posing a serious threat to our region. As a Georgian diplomat, it has long been a challenging task to explain, on one hand, the dangers posed by Russian occupation, and on the other, the immense opportunities that exist. This remains a difficult task, as the occupation persists and security challenges remain. Nonetheless, we must respond to these challenges, and our response must be economic development and well-structured reforms. Georgia ranks among the top in global ratings for ease of doing business, open governance, and anti-corruption efforts. These achievements have been made possible through consistent governmental reforms, particularly over the past decade. This is how we address the security challenges in our region”, - said the Minister.

Alongside Maka Botchorishvili, participants in the panel discussion included: Slovenia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Tanja Fajon; Egypt’s Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, Hassan El-Khatib; the United Kingdom’s National Security Advisor, Jonathan Powell; India’s Foreign Secretary, Vikram Misri; Infosys Co-Founder and Chairman, Nandan Nilekani; and DP World’s Executive and Managing Director, Rizwan Soomari. The discussion was moderated by Samir Saran, President of the Observer Research Foundation.

The Raisina Dialogue is a high-level international conference organized annually in New Delhi by India"s Ministry of External Affairs and the influential think tank, the Observer Research Foundation. The conference was inaugurated by India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, alongside New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon. The panel discussion was attended by foreign ministers and prominent political figures from numerous countries worldwide.