At the Delphi Economic Forum in Greece, Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili underscored the Black Sea’s central role in Georgia’s strategic vision and European aspirations, calling it “our history and our story.”

Speaking on the panel titled “Battle for a Free Open Black Sea: Regional and Global Impact,” Botchorishvili emphasized the sea’s growing importance as a physical and political connector between Georgia and the European Union. “For Georgia, a country that is aspiring to be part of the European Union, the Black Sea has turned into the connecting sea with the European Union,” she stated.

She outlined Georgia’s regional cooperation strategy, advocating for a model based on mutual respect and sovereignty. “The best model of cooperation would be to allow countries to develop their sovereignty, to develop their own national interests, and then cooperate for the benefits of everybody else.”

Acknowledging shared European interests, she reaffirmed Georgia’s commitment to collaboration without compromising national priorities. “If there are European interests, here we are to cooperate… And there are Georgian interests, of course, that need to be taken into account.”

Security concerns were a major theme, with Botchorishvili highlighting Russia’s occupation of Georgian territories, including Abkhazia along the Black Sea coast, and drawing parallels to the ongoing war in Ukraine. “These challenges cannot be neglected when discussing Black Sea cooperation,” she warned.

As an EU candidate country, Georgia has made significant strides, the minister noted. “For 10 years, we have proved that we can implement many things to bring European standards… Georgia is the closest to the European standards when it comes to implementation of association with the European Union.”

Botchorishvili also pointed to key regional initiatives—including a green energy project with Hungary, Romania, and Azerbaijan—as examples of the practical cooperation Georgia envisions. “The best strategy would be to develop economic cooperation… and invest to maximum in developing such cooperations of the Black Sea,” she concluded.

While optimistic about economic potential, she acknowledged that regional security remains a pressing uncertainty amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.