Speaking at the Delphi Economic Forum, Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili reaffirmed Georgia’s firm commitment to European integration, emphasizing the country’s identity as a Black Sea state with a “very clear ambition” to join the European Union.

“Georgia is a Black Sea country with a very clear ambition to be part of the European Union and a very clear declaration that we want to be a member of the European Union and move in that direction,” Botchorishvili told the audience.

Underscoring Georgia’s decade-long reform efforts, she said the country has consistently aligned itself with European values and proven itself as a dependable partner. “For 10 years, we have proved that we can implement many things to bring European standards. Georgia is the closest to European standards in the region when it comes to implementing our association with the European Union.”

She also highlighted Georgia’s active role in international missions under EU and NATO frameworks—not out of self-interest, she noted, but to demonstrate the country’s reliability and long-term commitment to Euro-Atlantic structures. “None of these missions were solely in the national interest of Georgia. Our national interest was simply to show our commitment toward NATO and the European Union.”

Botchorishvili emphasized that meaningful cooperation cannot be one-sided. “It is important to see what comes from the other side… Without dialogue, without talking about the region, it will be impossible to have such cooperation,” she said, calling for a shared strategy for the Black Sea region.

She proposed that a forward-looking approach should prioritize economic development and regional integration. “The best strategy would be to develop economic cooperation, make use of all the opportunities that are provided, and invest maximum effort into developing such cooperation in the Black Sea.”

On the issue of security, the Minister acknowledged the challenges posed by the ongoing war in Ukraine and the violation of international norms. She stressed the need for principled cooperation: “It is absolutely important to keep international principles and international law in mind and to keep them as a basis of our cooperation.”

Botchorishvili concluded with a call for a common vision, rooted in both strategic planning and a shared commitment to peace and progress in the Black Sea region.