U.S. Helsinki Commission leaders, including Chairman Senator Roger Wicker and Co-Chairman Representative Joe Wilson, expressed concern over Georgia's decision to award the rights to develop the Anaklia deep-water port to a Chinese conglomerate, which includes U.S.-sanctioned firms. The deal, set to be finalized in mid-April, raises alarms about China’s growing influence in the Black Sea region and its implications for Georgia's independence and democratic trajectory. The lawmakers criticized the lack of transparency in the bidding process and warned that Chinese control of the port would undermine Georgia’s security, potentially increasing its dependence on authoritarian regimes like Russia and China. They urged Georgian Dream to reconsider the deal and ensure fair, transparent evaluations of infrastructure bids.