As the 119th Congress prepares for its opening session on January 3rd, Republican Congressman Joe Wilson urges the incoming Trump administration to prioritize U.S. interests and target foreign malign actors. In a letter to Secretary of State nominee Senator Rubio and National Security Advisor nominee Representative Waltz, Wilson calls for exposing and dismantling Georgian sanctions evasion schemes and scam call centers. The letter comes after the U.S. imposed sanctions on Georgia’s former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, who has been accused of undermining Georgia’s democratic future in favor of Russia. Wilson, chair of The Helsinki Commission, urges the administration to extend sanctions to Ivanishvili’s family and associates to defend democracy and counter malign influence worldwide.
The letter from Congressman Wilson is part of a series of public outcries following Georgia’s highly disputed parliamentary elections in October and the government’s decision to pause its EU accession. Local and international observers deemed the elections fundamentally flawed, leading to calls for new elections to restore the Georgian people’s confidence in the government’s legitimacy. Despite these calls, a single party parliament recently appointed Mikheil Kavelashvili as the presidential candidate, sparking further controversy and criticism. Georgian Dream officials have downplayed the prospect of U.S. sanctions, expressing optimism about positive changes under the incoming Trump administration.
Despite Georgian Dream’s hopes for favorable treatment under the Trump administration, experts believe that Trump’s national security team is likely to pursue a tougher stance against countries aligned with China and Iran. The Georgian government’s alignment with authoritarian regimes has led to increased isolation from the West, with Georgia favoring Chinese companies over American investments and adopting Russian-style laws. Heritage Foundation’s James Carafano warns that governments leaning on support from Moscow and Beijing can expect a cold shoulder from the Trump administration, as it prioritizes U.S. interests and stands against malign influence.
The U.S. Treasury’s sanctions on Ivanishvili and his associates for undermining Georgia’s democratic future and aligning with Russia are seen as a significant step forward in countering malign influence. Congressional Republicans, united in their support for Georgia’s democratic future, are unlikely to deviate from the bipartisan consensus on Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic path. Despite Georgia’s hopes for favorable treatment under the Trump administration, experts believe that the government’s alignment with authoritarian regimes and isolation from the West will not lead to positive changes. With U.S. interests at stake, governments leaning on Moscow and Beijing are likely to face a tougher stance from the Trump administration.
As Georgia’s government continues to align itself with authoritarian regimes and distance from the West, concerns about the country’s democratic future and susceptibility to malign influence persist. Calls for new elections to restore the Georgian people’s confidence in the government’s legitimacy have been met with resistance from the ruling party, further exacerbating tensions and international scrutiny. The incoming Trump administration is expected to prioritize U.S. interests and take a tough stance against countries aligned with China and Iran, posing challenges for governments like Georgia that have leaned on support from Moscow and Beijing.
