ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the key factors shaping Georgia’s foreign policy choices, and especially the historical, political, strategic, economic, and moral considerations that determined the country’s orientation towards integration into Western politico-military institutions. It describes Georgian perceptions of Russian and Western, that is, US and EU, interests in the region and reviews the first failed attempts to accommodate Russia’s interests in Georgia, in the hope of restoring the country’s territorial integrity. The paper also examines the conditions that led to Georgia’s disillusionment with Russia, from the “Rose Revolution” to the events of August 2008, when Moscow and Tbilisi embarked on a brief, albeit consequential war. It assesses the new reality that emerged from the war and weighs a range of options available in the pursuit of security and eventual prospects for reintegration. Based on the analysis of past events, the current environment and future scenarios, we conclude that, provided that Georgia’s foreign policy alignment options remain open, it will, despite the impact of the war and possible risks, continue to pursue closer strategic ties with its key Western partners since these choices do not reflect short-term but deep-rooted decisions.
