Georgian PM highlights opening discussions with US on strategic partnership with “real content, agenda”
Irakli Kobakhidze
Photo: Georgian Government
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Monday emphasised his Government’s desire to shift from a “formal, paper-based” strategic partnership with the United States to one that “features tangible content, specific objectives, and a clear agenda”.
In his remarks at a Government session, Kobakhidze noted that the goal was for the strategic partnership to yield specific results for Georgia and its citizens.
“We have high hopes that under the new US administration, we will be able to qualitatively reboot our relations, which is essential for our country. Previously, we had a strategic partnership with the US on a paper, but it had no real substance. We want to shift the nature of our relationship and begin discussions about a real strategic partnership with tangible content, an agenda, and a specific roadmap”, he said.
Kobakhidze pointed out that the strategic partnership with the United States should have a roadmap similar to the Association Agreement agenda with the United States.
“We need to clearly understand what this strategic partnership should bring to both the US and Georgia, and what the tangible results of this partnership should be. This is the most important thing for us. We don’t want a strategic partnership written on a paper, we want a real strategic partnership with a clear roadmap. We are ready to start discussions with the new administration on this, and we hope that these talks will be successful, leading to a meaningful reboot of relations between Georgia and the US”, the PM noted.
He further highlighted that Georgia did not currently have visa-free travel with the US, free trade, or direct flights, and the Government aimed for the strategic partnership to yield specific, tangible outcome for Georgia and its citizens.
“We want the strategic partnership to bring real, tangible results for our country and people, and we aim to actively start these discussions with the new US administration. We also need to reach an agreement on shared values, strategic partnership must first and foremost be based on values. We have a reasonable hope that the new administration will not impose demands that contradict the values of our society. We believe there is significant alignment with the new administration, which gives us grounds for optimism”, he concluded.
All News
11 May 2026, 21:47
Politics
Georgian Parliament Committee Chair: Slovakia shows “absolute understanding and support” for Georgia
Nikoloz Samkharadze, the chair of the foreign relations committee of the Georgian Parliament, said on Monday that there was “absolute understanding and support” from Slovakia for the positions of the Georgian government.
11 May 2026, 21:44
Politics
Georgian Parliament Committee Chair emphasises Georgia’s unique role in developing Europe’s energy security
Nikoloz Samkharadze, the chair of the foreign relations committee of the Georgian Parliament, on Monday emphasised Georgia’s unique role in developing Europe’s energy security.
11 May 2026, 17:36
Society
Ivanishvili family congratulates newly elected Georgian Patriarch, emphasises unity and peace
Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder and honorary chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, and his spouse Ekaterina Ivanishvili on Monday sent a congratulatory letter to the newly elected Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Shio III, emphasising the historic importance and responsibility of his new role.
11 May 2026, 17:23
Society
Georgian Parliament Speaker: By God’s will, new Patriarch was chosen on the 1 700th anniversary of Christianity in Georgia
Georgian Parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Monday celebrated the election of His Holiness and Beatitude Shio III, Archbishop of Mtskheta-Tbilisi and Metropolitan of Bichvinta and Tskhum-Abkhazia, emphasising the spiritual and historical significance of this moment.
11 May 2026, 17:07
Society
Georgian President wishes God-blessed ministry to Patriarch Shio III
Georgian president Mikheil Kavelashvili on Monday congratulated Metropolitan Shio on his election as Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia.
11 May 2026, 16:58
Society
“A great honour and a heavy cross” - Patriarch Shio III delivers emotional first address after election
The newly elected Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Shio III on Monday delivered his first address at Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi, saying it was difficult for him to express his spiritual emotions at this moment.
11 May 2026, 16:50
Society
Georgian PM congratulates Shio III on election as Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia
Georgian prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Monday congratulated Shio III on his election as Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, stating that a historic page was turned in the history of the national and spiritual life.
11 May 2026, 16:47
Society
New Patriarch’s enthronement to be held on May 12
The enthronement ceremony of the new Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia will take place on Tuesday, announced on Monday His Holiness and Beatitude, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia and Archbishop of Mtskheta-Tbilisi Shio III.
11 May 2026, 16:12
Society
Metropolitan Shio elected as new Patriarch of Georgian Orthodox Church
Metropolitan Shio has been elected as the new Patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church during an expanded Holy Synod session held at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi.
11 May 2026, 15:28
Politics
Georgian Parliament Speaker highlights “national identity, traditional family values, Christian heritage” as guiding principles on path toward EU integration
Georgian Parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Monday said he was pleased to visit Slovakia together with the Georgian parliamentary delegation and emphasised the importance of deepening parliamentary cooperation between the two countries following a meeting with the speaker of the Slovak Parliament Richard Raši.
11 May 2026, 15:13
Foreign policy
Georgian, Slovak Parliament Speakers discuss cooperation, EU integration
Georgian Parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Monday met with the chair of the National Council of Slovakia Richard Raši.
11 May 2026, 13:43
Society
Expanded Church Council convenes in Tbilisi to elect new Patriarch of Georgia
An expanded church council is underway at Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi to elect the new Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia following the death of Ilia II.
11 May 2026, 11:23
Justice
Foreign citizen arrested for attempting to smuggle large quantities of drugs into Georgia
The officers of the Adjara main division of the central criminal police department under Georgia’s ministry of internal affairs, together with employees of the customs department of the revenue service under the ministry of finance, have arrested a Turkish citizen on charges of illegally purchasing, possessing, and importing large and especially large quantities of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances into Georgia.
10 May 2026, 22:45
Politics
Georgian FM says Ukraine’s engagement reflects Georgia’s role in regional connectivity needs
Georgian foreign minister Maka Botchorishvili commented on the recent meeting between Georgian prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which took place on the sidelines of the 8th European Political Community Summit.
10 May 2026, 22:17
Politics
MEP Irmhild Boßdorf slams proposed sanctions against Imedi TV as “violation of freedom of speech”
German MEP Irmhild Boßdorf on Sunday voiced strong opposition to the proposed sanctions against the Georgian television station Imedi TV, calling the move “inconceivable” and a clear sign that freedom of speech is being applied selectively by European institutions.
10 May 2026, 21:58
Politics
MEP Rasa Juknevičienė declines to provide evidence for sanctions against Imedi TV, citing need for “preparation”
Lithuanian Member of the European Parliament Rasa Juknevičienė has declined to provide specific examples of disinformation to justify her calls for sanctioning the Georgian television station Imedi TV.
10 May 2026, 21:50
Politics
MEP Tomasz Froelich slams proposed sanctions against Imedi TV as "double standards"
European Parliament member Tomasz Froelich on Sunday criticised proposals to sanction Georgian television channel Imedi, calling the initiative “double standards” and suggesting it is driven by broader geopolitical decisions made in Brussels.
10 May 2026, 19:25
Politics
Georgian Parliament Speaker: outdated Georgia data on German Foreign Office website “attack on sovereignty”
Georgian Parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Sunday criticised the German foreign ministry’s failure to update official information about Georgia’s leadership on its website.
10 May 2026, 19:08
Politics
“Georgian society is eagerly waiting for him to leave” - Georgian Parliament Speaker slams German Ambassador
Georgian Parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Sunday sharply criticised Peter Fischer, the German Ambassador to Georgia, saying he appears to have “a problem not only with the Vienna Convention, but also with politeness”.
10 May 2026, 18:51
Politics
Georgian Parliament Speaker: EU must stop creating “enemy image” of Georgia
Georgian Parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Sunday called on European Union officials to carefully reflect on his recent letter, emphasising that a shift in rhetoric is essential for the benefit of both the EU and bilateral relations.