US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Arrives in Georgia

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo today arrived in Georgia as part of a planned visit to seven countries. Mr. Pompeo will conduct high-level discussions focused on Georgia’s democratic security with senior government officials as well as members of civil society.

Pompeo was greeted at the airport by US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Davit Zalkaliani, and Georgia’s Ambassador to the US, Davit Bakradze.

Pompeo is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, President Salome Zurabishvili, and the Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II. He will also speak with the representatives of the civil sector in order to “hear their views on rule of law, on judicial independence, and an independent judiciary as part of the integral process, free adjudication of processes in the Georgian democracy, and respect for human and economic rights” (U.S. Department of State’a statement on social media).

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has outlined the pivotal issues pertaining to the Secretary of State’s visit to Georgia, saying the most vital discussion will concern the priority directions of the US-Georgia Strategic Partnership Charter for deepening cooperation between the two countries. Other points of discussion will concern strengthening of the regional security, as well as the realms of defense, trade, economy, education and culture, among others. 

Mr.Pompeo’s visit comes at a time of electoral chaos in Georgia – street protests have been ongoing since the October 31 parliamentary elections. The opposition claims that the elections were rigged and refuses to recognize the official results.

Pompeo’s visit is likely meant to signal the strength and commitment of the US presence in and support for the Caucasus.