Georgian Dream MP Meets with U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor in Washington

2026-03-05 - 09:35

Nikoloz Samkharadze, a Georgian Dream member of the disputed parliament and chair of its Foreign Relations Committee, met on March 4 in Washington with Andrew Baker, U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor. The meeting took place during a visit by the four-member Georgian parliamentary delegation, led by Samkharadze, to the United States, where they were invited by controversial Republican Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna to attend the inaugural summit of the Alliance of Sovereign Nations on March 4-5. The meeting was also attended by Tamar Taliashvili, Georgia’s Ambassador to the United States, and Charles J. McLaughlin IV, Special Assistant to the President of the United States. Describing the meeting as “quite engaging,” Samkharadze said, according to a Georgian Parliament press release, that the main topic was “the revitalization of Georgian-American relations and the restoration of the strategic partnership.” “We discussed the interest and readiness demonstrated by the Georgian side,” he added. “We also exchanged views on which issues could serve as leading direction for restoring relations.” “Insightful and friendly conversation with the Deputy National Security Adviser Andrew Baker about security challenges stemming from occupation, reinvigoration of Georgia-U.S. relations leading to new partnership, mutually beneficial economic prospects and Georgia’s strategic roles in ensuring connectivity,” Samkharadze wrote on X following the meeting. Insightful&friendly conversation with the Deputy Nat'l Security Adviser Andrew Baker about security challenges stemming from occupation, reinvigoration of 🇬🇪-🇺🇲 relations leading to new partnership, mutually beneficial economic projects&🇬🇪 strategic role in ensuring connectivity. pic.twitter.com/mcKcMMLC80 — Nikoloz Samkharadze (@Samkharadze79) March 4, 2026 The meeting with a high-level U.S. official came amid ongoing uncertainty in bilateral relations. Under President Joe Biden, the United States suspended the strategic partnership with Georgia in November 2024 and later sanctioned Georgian Dream founder and honorary chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili. Under President Donald Trump, however, Washington has continued to remain largely silent toward Tbilisi, despite repeated claims by the Georgian Dream government of “shared values” with the Trump administration and stated efforts to reset relations “from a clean slate.” During the meeting between Samkharadze and Baker, the sides also discussed “security challenges,” including developments in Iran and their impact on Georgia and the South Caucasus region. The talks also covered the Middle Corridor and “the process of normalizing relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan,” according to the Georgian Parliament’s press release. Samkharadze also reportedly highlighted the threats posed by Russia’s occupation of Georgia’s territories and expressed hope that “this meeting and the spirit in which it was held will enable us to take successful steps in the future.” Pro-government and UK-sanctioned Imedi TV later released additional comments by Samkharadze, saying the meeting also addressed “serious missteps in the recent past, including instances of interference in Georgia’s internal affairs.” Also Read: 05/02/2026 – GD Deputy Foreign Minister Meets U.S. State Department Official in Washington 05/02/2026 – Georgian Ambassador Hosts U.S. State Department Officials in Washington 29/01/2026 – U.S. Congressional Staff Delegation Visits Georgia 07/07/2025 – U.S. Ambassador: GD Sent “Threatening, Insulting, Unserious” Letter to Trump Administration