The Geoeconomic Case for Fighting Authoritarianism in Georgia
Arthur Krön: The Geoeconomic Case for Fighting Authoritarianism in Georgia: Why Georgia's authoritarian government threatens European interests – and what to do about it. AIES Focus 2025/7.
08.10.2025
Georgia represents a critical geoeconomic chokepoint for Europe—serving as the primary transit corridor for Caspian fossil fuels, a key commercial and digital gateway to Central Asia and the Far East, and a crucial link in the enforcement of sanctions against Russia. Against the will of its people, Georgia’s government has increasingly aligned itself with Moscow, transforming into an authoritarian Russian proxy. As the Kremlin has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to weaponize proxy states to disrupt European supply chains and infrastructure, this shift poses a direct threat to Europe’s energy security, economic stability, and digital connectivity. European nations and the European Union must therefore systematically support the Georgian people in their struggle to oust the regime, while exerting political, economic, and diplomatic pressure. This effort should form a central part in the futureproofing of Europe’s geoeconomic resilience. This paper analyses Georgia’s geoeconomic significance, the depth of Russian influence in its domestic politics, and the country’s slide toward autocracy. The final section offers a set of policy recommendations for European governments and the EU to weaken the regime’s authoritarian grip and empower Georgian society in its pursuit of European integration.