For the first time in its history as a key partner, Georgia was absent from the official programme of the NATO summit held in Ankara, Turkey. While non-member states such as Ukraine, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, and Australia were included in the alliance's agenda and accompanying forums, Tbilisi was notably left out—a development that has reignited debate over the country's international standing.
The exclusion marks a sharp departure from the past decade, during which Georgia consistently framed its Euro-Atlantic integration as a national strategic priority. Critics argue that the omission signals a loss of political relevance and influence, particularly as the country's relations with both NATO and the European Union have deteriorated.
Government Denies Isolation, but Critics Disagree
Representatives of Georgia's ruling party, Georgian Dream, dismissed accusations of isolation. MP Irakli Kirtskhalia told reporters in Tbilisi that the summit in Ankara did not include the type of meetings Georgia had previously attended, adding: “We have no problem attending the summit, ask the organizers why we are not represented.”
Georgia's Foreign Ministry confirmed that Foreign Minister Maka Bochorishvili would attend a separate event in Turkey called “Allies in Ankara,” organized under the auspices of the Munich Security Conference. Bochorishvili described it as “an important opportunity for Georgia to present the country’s positions and its regional role to partners.” However, critics noted that this event was not part of the official NATO summit.
Opposition Lelo party representative Grigol Gegelia countered: “For the first time in Georgia’s history, the country is not represented at the NATO summit itself.” Meanwhile, Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili traveled to Tehran to attend the funeral of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a move that some saw as further evidence of Tbilisi's shifting diplomatic priorities.
Analysts Warn of Lost Trust and Strategic Damage
Political analyst Paata Zakareishvili argued that the absence from the NATO summit reflects a deeper erosion of trust. “Georgia is being ignored. There is a view that it is better not to maintain relations with it because no one knows what information Georgia might pass on to Russia. Georgia is seen as an unreliable, vulnerable, and toxic state,” he said. Zakareishvili emphasized that Georgia, given its strategic position in the Black Sea and Caucasus, should have been present as an honored guest.
Levan Dolidze, Georgia’s former ambassador to NATO, echoed these concerns. “Georgia is now effectively in confrontation with its former strategic partners, which is clearly affecting the country's relations with NATO and the EU,” he said. “A foreign policy that leads to international isolation is causing significant harm to our country’s national interests.” Dolidze noted that while Georgia’s absence from the NATO summit was damaging, the country’s exclusion from discussions within the European Union was even more consequential.
Strained EU Ties and a Paused Accession Process
The EU granted Georgia candidate status in December 2023 but halted its membership application process indefinitely and cut financial support in June 2024 after Tbilisi passed a “foreign influence” law that Brussels described as Russian-inspired and authoritarian. The law sparked massive anti-government protests in Tbilisi. In October 2025, after winning general elections, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced a pause on EU accession talks until 2028, citing “blackmail and manipulation” from some EU politicians. Although a gradual thaw later reopened the possibility of renewed negotiations, the process has lost momentum over the past six months.
Kobakhidze has positioned Georgia as a bridge between Europe and Asia, emphasizing its role as a transit hub for energy connectivity alongside Azerbaijan. Speaking at the Antalya forum earlier this year, he said: “We try our best and we are striving to further strengthen our connectivity function. In the current environment, where trade routes are once again facing serious challenges, we are able to offer certain services to our partners in different parts of the world.”
At the European Political Community summit in Yerevan in May, Kobakhidze met with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and had a brief encounter with French President Emmanuel Macron, reaffirming Georgia's readiness to cooperate. Yet, as the NATO Summit in Ankara demonstrated, the gap between Tbilisi's aspirations and its current standing within the Euro-Atlantic community remains wide.
The exclusion from the NATO summit is not an isolated incident. It follows a pattern of strained relations with Western partners, as highlighted by the mixed outcomes of recent NATO gatherings. For Georgia, the challenge now is to rebuild trust and demonstrate that it remains a reliable partner in a region where security dynamics are increasingly complex.
