“I believe there are encouraging conditions for improving the situation and elevating the currently low level of relations between Georgia and the United States. This opens a new realm of opportunities,” stated First Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Levan Davitashvili during his interview on Imedi.

According to Davitashvili, there is a notable ideological alignment with the new U.S. administration.

Furthermore, the First Vice Prime Minister emphasized that shared values are a solid foundation for more effective cooperation between the two nations. However, he cautioned that this alone is sufficient for neither Georgia nor the United States.

“This must be complemented by specific, mutually beneficial, and tangible initiatives, making our cooperation more productive. We understand the priorities of the new administration—they are committed to ensuring that America’s engagement with the world, with various countries and partners, reflects the interests of its citizens,” Davitashvili explained.

He also addressed the sanctions previously imposed by the previous U.S. administration against certain Georgian officials. He described this legacy as a complex challenge for the new administration, requiring time and legal procedures to address.

“Rebuilding damaged relations is more difficult than maintaining high-level ties, but there are opportunities. The key is that both sides share a spirit of cooperation. From my observations, the U.S. administration demonstrates a genuine desire to establish mutually beneficial and productive collaboration. Naturally, discussions about past decisions—particularly those made by the previous administration—can be contentious, and both sides may have differing viewpoints. Nonetheless, open and sincere dialogue is essential. That is precisely what occurred. Our conversation at the White House was particularly constructive—we engaged in honest exchanges, learned about new priorities, and shared our expectations. I believe it was highly beneficial,” said Davitashvili.

He also commented on the Georgian opposition’s assessments of the new U.S. administration’s policies. Davitashvili noted that the opposition’s interpretation of certain statements does not reflect reality. He reaffirmed that prospects for cooperation between Georgia and the U.S. are rooted in mutual respect, emphasizing that the new U.S. administration recognizes and respects the sovereignty and decisions of all nations, including Georgia.

“This message from the White House and the new administration is very clear,” he asserted.

Davitashvili acknowledged the broader context of significant political shifts not only in America but across global politics, which naturally require time to unfold. He pointed out that opposition parties tend to speculate and issue preliminary statements, but the government maintains a consistent policy and clear interest in fostering deeper cooperation with the United States.

“We aim for a more productive and tangible partnership with America. This was a central topic during meetings with U.S. leaders—discussions focused on how to transform the paused strategic cooperation into a results-driven partnership and how to incorporate new initiatives,” he explained.

Davitashvili expressed optimism that the ongoing intense dialogue with the U.S. administration will enable the achievement of all jointly set goals.

“The expectations for further cooperation with the United States are very high within our society. I hope these expectations will be justified. However, it is also clear that such processes take time, given the many priorities of the new administration and the numerous global challenges we face,” Davitashvili added.

The First Vice Prime Minister concluded by highlighting that many important and complex issues, including challenging ones, were discussed during his visit.

“I trust that within the year, the U.S. administration will revisit these issues and work with us to resolve them through dialogue. We are prepared for this. With ongoing intensive communication, all the tasks we have jointly set can be accomplished,” Davitashvili affirmed.