Ex-Pres Saakashvili warns of “geopolitical catastrophe” for Georgia over new Armenia–Azerbaijan transit corridor

Georgia’s former president Mikheil Saakashvili has reacted to reports that the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia are set to agree — bypassing Russia — on the opening of a new strategic transport corridor.

Saakashvili called the project a “geopolitical catastrophe” for Georgia, warning that it would strip the country of its role as a regional transit hub.

According to him, the new route — involving Russia and Iran while bypassing Georgia — would place the country in “geopolitical isolation.”

“Georgia’s prosperity during my time in office was built on four pillars: our transit function, which we inherited during Shevardnadze’s era and deepened under my leadership; tourism; our status as a ‘beacon of democracy’ that attracted investment; and our broad international ties and the start of rapid Euro-Atlantic integration,” Saakashvili wrote.

“These factors guaranteed our security. It was precisely to protect our transit role and democratic system that President Bush sent the 6th Fleet to Georgia in 2008.”

He accused billionaire and ruling party founder Bidzina Ivanishvili of destroying Georgia’s democracy, isolating the country from its key allies, and now causing it to lose its transit hub status.

Saakashvili referred to reports that the US, Azerbaijan, and Armenia are set to sign an international agreement under which the United States would lease the Zangezur Corridor for 100 years, creating a new Europe–China route that bypasses Georgia, Iran, and Russia.

“Yes, we are ending up in complete geopolitical isolation alongside Iran and Russia. This means the iron curtain will come down at the Red Bridge border crossing, and we will plunge into the abyss together with Moscow and Tehran,” he warned.

The ex-president said the project would render Georgia’s existing ports — and the planned Lazika Port — obsolete, leading to accelerated emigration and deepening poverty.

“This is where breaking our strategic alliance with America and Europe has brought us. How ironic that all this is happening on the anniversary of the August War,” he noted.

Earlier today, Reuters reported that during a meeting at the White House, the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia will agree on the opening of the new strategic corridor without Russian involvement.

Meanwhile, TRIPP, citing its sources, wrote that the corridor will be named after US President Donald Trump, and that the United States will hold exclusive rights to develop and operate it.