The Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Joshua Huck, stated that the US is surprised by the decision of Georgia's ruling party, Georgian Dream, to consider China as "an appropriate strategic partner for Georgia."
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During a congressional hearing, Republican Congresswoman Ann Wagner asked Joshua Huck about the Anaklia deepwater port project. According to Huck, in May, the Georgian government announced that the tender for the construction of the port on the Black Sea coast was won by a Chinese consortium. "Anaklia's strategic location makes it an important project for Xi Jinping," the congresswoman said, expressing concern about the issue.
"I fully share your concern. It is surprising to us that the Georgian Dream government has decided that China, a country financing Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine and illegally occupying 20% of Georgia's territory in violation of international law, is a proper strategic partner for Georgia. This is surprising to us. We have discussed this very clearly with the Georgian government," said Joshua Huck.
The Deputy Assistant Secretary of State noted that the Georgian government should consider the costs of the economic benefits of partnering with China - the risks of dependence on China and economic coercion.
The Honorary Chairman of Georgian Dream, Bidzina Ivanishvili, said on July 16 that deepening Georgia's cooperation with China is not an alternative to cooperation with the United States of America and the European Union. As Ivanishvili says, "on the contrary, this is a complementary factor for the common cooperation, which should be deepened in the coming years."
On May 29, 2024, the Minister of Economy of Georgia, Levan Davitashvili, announced that the Chinese consortium, which includes China Communications Construction Company Limited (CCCC), will be a private investor in the Anaklia deep-water port strategic project. CCCC, which is sanctioned by the United States of America, will have a 49% stake in the strategic project. The US ambassador to Georgia, Robin Dunnigan, stated that the Chinese Communist Party owns the majority of CCCC. "The Chinese Communist Party is the number one banker, the number one financier of the Russian army today. So one question is, why deepen economic ties with the party that finances your occupier? Because the Russian army is financed by the Chinese Communist Party," said the US ambassador. The Chinese Embassy in Georgia condemned this statement from the American diplomat and called it absurd.
