The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill titled "The Law to Counter China's Influence in the Caucasus."
With the adopted legislation, Congress has tasked the U.S. Secretary of State, the Director of National Intelligence, and the Secretary of Defense with the obligation to prepare and present a report within 180 days on the activities of Russian and Chinese intelligence in Georgia.
Within the framework of the report, the investigation of the influence of Russian and Chinese intelligence agencies in Georgia is reflected in the legislative act. Additionally, the bill requires the preparation of a five-year strategy for U.S.-Georgia relations. This strategy must determine the goals of U.S.-Georgia relations and assess the aid and resources the U.S. should allocate to Georgia.
One of the bill’s authors, Congressman Joe Wilson, declared in a speech to Congress after the House adopted the law that the illegitimate "Georgian Dream" government is selling Georgia to war criminal Putin and Iran, contrary to the will of the people and U.S. interests.
Although the "Law to Counter China's Influence in the Caucasus" passed by the House mainly targets Georgia, it confirms the conclusion that the South Caucasus has become a region of vital importance to Washington and that the U.S. will not make concessions to China and Russia regarding this region.
It was expected that TRIPP (Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity) would be an initial step, and that over time the process would take on an institutional character. After the midterm elections, the process will strengthen further in Congress. Since Russia is weakened and China is distant, expelling China and Russia from the South Caucasus will not be difficult for the U.S.
The clause in the Istanbul Declaration, signed by the foreign ministers of Turkey, Georgia, and Azerbaijan, stating that "States reaffirmed their strong and unequivocal support for each other's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and inviolability of borders," is, in my opinion, no coincidence. It seems that ensuring Georgia’s territorial integrity is not far off. If negotiations between Ankara and Washington regarding U.S. financial support to Turkey conclude positively, the process will begin immediately. If Ankara and Washington fail to reach an agreement on the swap deal, in my view, London will intervene in the process.
A historic opportunity has arisen to expel Russia from the South Caucasus. The U.S. and Great Britain should not miss this historic chance.
Xagani Jafarli,
political analyst