Russia’s Strategic Interests in Georgia
Russia’s Strategic Interests in Georgia

Author(s): Nana Kalandarishvili
Subject(s): Government/Political systems, International relations/trade, Security and defense, Political behavior, Geopolitics, Peace and Conflict Studies
Published by: NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence
Keywords: Russia; Georgia; political goals; NATO; Great Power project;
Summary/Abstract: This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of Russia’s strategic interests in Georgia. It focuses on Russia’s global and regional goals as laid out in Russian strategic documents adopted following the August War of 2008 with Georgia and the annexation of Crimea in 2014. Namely, the Military Strategy of 2014, the National Security Strategy of 2015, the Foreign Policy Concept of 2016, and the Doctrine of Information Security of the Russian Federation issued in 2016. It examines how Moscow set out to create an alternative to the liberal west – a traditionalist, nationalistic-patriotic centre of gravity with an ambition to spiritual and moral superiority – and how that plays out in Russia’s strategic interests in the South Caucasus and Georgia in particular. Georgia is not pivotal to strengthening Moscow’s position in the world. In fact, the current situation in the Caucasus is already favourable for Russia. Yerevan’s political and military dependence on Moscow, economic ties with Baku, and financially subsidised loyalty of the Northern Caucasus allow Russia to maintain stable influence over these countries. Annexation of Crimea in 2014 strengthened Russia’s control over the Black Sea. The currently irreversible occupation of Georgia’s territories of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali/South Ossetia as well as cautious approach by the current Georgian government not to escalate any tensions with Moscow allows Russia to focus comfortably on its ambitions globally.

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