“I have no announcement today specifically on what we plan to do yet, but I can tell you that that is something that’s being discussed,” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated during a hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Committee in response to a question from Congressman Joe Wilson on Georgia.

Congressman Wilson expressed concern about the Georgian Dream party, calling it an “anti-American regime” and accusing it of rigging the October 26 elections, criminalising ties with the U.S., targeting American companies, obstructing trade through the Middle Corridor, and aligning with the Chinese Communist Party.

“With that in mind, I’m really grateful that they, with the Rondeli Foundation, just released a report, indicating the control by the Chinese Communist Party now in the Republic of Georgia. And, I’d like to provide this for the record. Additionally, for 200 consecutive days, freedom-loving Georgians have heroically taken to the streets, embracing themselves in American flags and carrying posters of the president. Under your leadership, what will be done to help the State Department impose real costs on the anti-American Georgian Dream on behalf of the people of Georgia?” Joe Wilson asked Secretary Rubio.

The U.S. Secretary of State responded that the U.S. foreign policy is guided by national interest.

“Going back to what I’ve said earlier in my opening statement, the goal of the United States is our national interests. So, we will look at that and say, is it our national interest to have an anti-American government governing an important part of the world? And if not, we’ll take appropriate actions to impose costs on that government.

That’s currently under review, and we’re looking for options and additional options. I have no announcement today specifically on what we plan to do yet, but I can tell you that that is something that’s being discussed and again, a great example of why we’re going to look to our regional bureaus, and our local office on the ground there to provide us guidance as to what are the measures that the government, the anti-American government would be most responsive to,” said Marco Rubio.