Washington Weighs Robust Support Package for Georgia, Conditional on Reform Commitment
According to sources from Politico, Washington is contemplating a comprehensive economic and security support package for Georgia, contingent upon the government’s renunciation of anti-Western rhetoric and the improvement of human rights conditions in the country.
U.S. Congressman Joe Wilson, a Republican, is set to introduce a bill in Congress aimed at initiating negotiations between the United States and Georgia concerning the establishment of a «reliable preferential trade regime,» contingent upon adherence to crucial political criteria. This proposed legislation would not only facilitate access to U.S. markets but also include provisions for liberalizing visa requirements for Georgian citizens.
Furthermore, the bill highlights the potential for developing a military support package, encompassing «security and defense supplies ideally suited to protect the territory against Russian aggression,» along with accompanying elements of training, maintenance, and operational support. However, the program will only be activated if the U.S. acknowledges «significant and sustained progress in Georgia’s democratic restoration,» which must be evidenced by at least fair and free elections as well as a balanced electoral environment.
In Wilson’s bill, there are also measures for individual sanctions against politicians of the ruling party «Georgian Dream» and other officials should they adopt a «foreign agents» law akin to the one in Russia. This new legislation, which is soon to be voted on in Parliament, targets Western-funded non-governmental organizations, media outlets, and political campaigns as foreign agents—critics argue that this could be employed to suppress and delegitimize government dissent.
Joe Wilson serves as the Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, an independent agency of the U.S. government responsible for monitoring freedom and democracy across the continent. His bill, dubbed the «MEGOBARI Act» (Mobilization and Empowerment of Georgia to Bolster Accountability, Resilience, and Independence), reflects the concerns shared by other leaders in Washington regarding Georgia’s political trajectory.
As discussions continue, the outcome of Wilson’s proposal may significantly shape the future of U.S.-Georgia relations, potentially providing vital support while urging the Georgian government towards essential reforms.
