Georgia
Overview
Georgia (English: Georgia, Georgian: საქართველო) is a country located on the eastern coast of the Black Sea, in the South Caucasus region, and its capital is Tbilisi. Although it is a small country with a population of about 3.7 million, it possesses unique cultural heritage such as the world's oldest winemaking tradition and polyphonic singing, and as a geopolitical crossroads connecting Europe and Asia, it has sought a balance between Russia and the European Union (EU). After gaining independence with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, it experienced civil war and territorial disputes, and in the 2020s, large-scale political conflicts have continued over the issue of EU accession.
Main Content
Geography and Nature
The national territory is about 69,700 km², equivalent to about one-third of the Korean Peninsula. To the north, it borders Russia along the Greater Caucasus Mountains; to the south, Armenia and Türkiye; and to the east, Azerbaijan. The west has a humid subtropical climate along the Black Sea coast, while the east has a dry continental climate, with large regional differences; representative areas include the high mountain zone near Elbrus, the highest peak of the Caucasus Mountains, and the Kakheti Valley, suitable for grape cultivation.
History
Starting from the ancient kingdoms of Colchis and Iberia, it was one of the earliest countries in the world to adopt Christianity as a state religion around the 4th century. In the 11th–13th centuries, during the reign of Queen Tamar, it enjoyed a "Golden Age" and culture flourished; later, after rule by the Mongols, Ottomans, and Persians, it was annexed by the Russian Empire in the early 19th century. In 1918 it established a democratic republic, but in 1921 it was absorbed by the Soviet Union, and in 1991 it restored independence. In 2003, the "Rose Revolution" brought a pro-Western reformist government to power, and the 2008 war with Russia entrenched the South Ossetia and Abkhazia issues.
Politics and Diplomacy
It is a republican system centered on a president, a prime minister, and a unicameral parliament. It obtained EU candidate status in 2023, but in 2024 large-scale protests erupted over the enactment of the "Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence" (so-called foreign agents law). Over the October 2024 general election results and the change of prime minister at the end of 2024, the ruling and opposition parties clashed head-on, and the conflict between pro-Russian and pro-Western lines emerged as a national issue.
Economy
Wine, mineral water, and agricultural exports, tourism, and remittances are the main pillars. As a transit country for energy transport corridors such as the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan oil pipeline, its strategic value is great. GDP per capita is around $8,000, and because trade shares with both Russia and the EU are high, the economy responds sensitively to changes in diplomatic lines.
Culture and Society
The Qvevri vessel winemaking method, which has continued for over 8,000 years, was inscribed as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. Local dishes such as khachapuri and khinkali, the male polyphonic singing tradition, and the unique script "Mkhedruli" are famous. The majority are Orthodox Christians, and family-centered traditional culture remains strong.
Latest Trends
In 2024–2025, political confrontation in Georgia reached its peak due to the "foreign agents law" and the election rejection situation. The opposition and civil society continued protests out of concern over a retreat from the EU accession path, and the EU and the United States reviewed some support, citing democratic backsliding. Russia tried to expand its influence by attempting to normalize relations, and the Georgian government advocated pragmatic diplomacy between the two sides. Geopolitical competition over energy and infrastructure projects such as Black Sea submarine power and communication cables is also deepening.
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