Georgia has already endured a war with Russia in 2008, and it appears that European and British politicians are overlooking the lessons and experiences that this country has faced, British diplomat Ian Proud told GPB First Channel after the opening of the 16th Regional Forum on Sustainable Development in Tbilisi.

“I believe that UK policy is influenced by the European stance towards Georgia. The primary objective of this policy seems to encourage Georgia to align with EU foreign policy against Russia, including the imposition of sanctions. However, it is evident to any independent observer that if Georgia decides to impose sanctions on Russia, it would incur significant economic, political, and potentially military costs.

Georgia has already faced a war with Russia in 2008, and it appears that European and British politicians are overlooking the lessons learned from that experience. The criticism surrounding sanctions and the scrutiny of parliamentary and local elections seem to be part of a broader strategy to apply pressure on Russia and push Georgia into a globalist agenda. What I observe is that Georgia is striving for independence and aims to pursue a multi-vector foreign policy, avoiding entanglement in wars. This desire for independence is particularly pertinent given that the shift of the world’s economic center of gravity is moving eastward toward Asia, largely due to China’s remarkable growth as an economic superpower over the past four decades. This is a reality that cannot be ignored,” he said.

He added that Europe is undergoing economic challenges and suggested that the United States is also facing structural shifts in its global position.

“In many ways, the United States is heading in a similar direction, positioning Georgia favorably at the cusp of this economic shift. It makes sense for Georgia to be part of this transformation towards the East. This does not imply severing all ties with Europe or the West; rather, it suggests adopting a multi-vector approach, which Georgia is already implementing by building relationships with various countries. As the global economic power balance changes, the political landscape will also shift. The era of unipolarity has ended, and we now find ourselves in a multipolar world. It appears that Georgia has recognized this change in time and is strategically positioning itself to maximize the benefits from these developments,” the British diplomat added.