The Heritage Foundation has published the report under the title – Top Five Priorities for the U.S.– Georgian Relationship in 2020.

Ambassador Degnan’s arrival in Tbilisi this week reminds us why #Georgia is so important to the U.S. So, here are the top five priorities for the U.S.??-Georgian?? relationship in 2020: https://t.co/1RPkW4UPHn via @Heritage

— Alexis Mrachek (@AlexisMrachek) January 31, 2020

The author of the report Alexis Mrachek says “after street protests took place in 2019, 2020 parliamentary elections in Georgia will likely be tumultuous.”

“Other matters for 2020 include the fate of the Anaklia port project, a U.S.– Georgia free trade agreement, and Georgia’s NATO aspirations. In order to advance the U.S.– Georgian relationship in 2020, the U.S. should support free and fair parliamentary elections, push for a free trade agreement with Georgia, support Georgia’s NATO aspirations, strengthen the bilateral defense relationship, and prod Georgia to find a new investor for the Anaklia port project,” Mrachek noted.

Among the reasons why Georgia is tremendously important to the United States, Research Assistant, Russia and Eurasia Alexis Mrachek empesizes Georgia’s deployment in Afghanistan and Iraq and accentuates Georgia’s location at the crossroads of Europe and Asia as “extremely strategic.”

“Running through Georgia are key oil and gas pipelines and rail lines, which are important to European security. These pipelines include the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline, the Baku–Supsa pipeline, and the coming Southern Gas Corridor transit, and the main rail line running through Georgia is the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway. Georgia also serves as an example for the Eurasia region in terms of its democratization efforts. It has remained committed to the transatlantic community for nearly 20 years, and it strongly values territorial integrity,” Mrachek stressed.

Research Assistant underlies following top five priorities in 2020 the U.S. needs to focus on:

• 1. Support Free and Fair Parliamentary Elections in Georgia.
• 2. Push for a Free Trade Agreement with Georgia.
• 3. Support Georgia’s NATO Aspirations.
• 4. Strengthen the Bilateral Defense Relationship
• 5. Prod Georgia to Find a New Investor for the Anaklia Port.

Alexis Mrachek concludes that “Georgia will be faced with multiple challenges this year.” The author says the future of the October parliamentary elections and the Anaklia Port project are up in the air.

Herein, research assistant places emphasis on the progress being made in the bilateral defense relationship, Georgia’s future NATO membership, and the possibility of a U.S.– Georgia free trade agreement.