US Seeks to Solidify Caucasus Influence via Georgia’s Anaklia Port Amidst Rival Competition
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, the United States is actively pursuing the consolidation of its regional influence in the South Caucasus by increasing its presence in Georgia, even as Tbilisi maintains its declared independent foreign policy stance.
Guest analyst Ehsan Movahhedian suggests that President Donald Trump may endeavor to resuscitate the Anaklia Port complex on the Black Sea to solidify American dominance over vital economic and trade pathways that directly challenge Iran, China, and Russia. This strategy reportedly includes efforts to bolster corridors such as the disputed Zangezur route.
Establishing a permanent and stable commercial presence for the United States in Georgia, alongside managing key land and maritime corridors connecting the Caucasus to Central Asia and Europe, represents a significant strategic shift. This development poses a considerable overland challenge to China, particularly given the maritime impediments Beijing faces in Southeast Asia.
The Trump administration has already challenged Russia in its near abroad by intervening in the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict and implementing the Trade and Regional Investment Promotion Program (TRIPP), which involved an initial investment of $145 million. The ultimate strategic objective for the US is to secure guaranteed access to the energy and mineral resources of the Caucasus and Central Asia, thereby reducing dependence on China for these vital supplies.
The reinforcement of the US position at Anaklia is positioned directly against the stated goals of Russia and China to eliminate Western influence from Georgia and its surrounding areas. Concurrently, Russia is undertaking the construction of a strategic naval facility in Abkhazia to maintain its leverage within Georgia.
The development of the Anaklia port and the execution of the TRIPP route are designed to increase the politico-economic reliance of Central Asian landlocked nations on the West, effectively forming a new overland belt that counters Washington’s primary rivals. Countries like Uzbekistan critically require a secure maritime passage via the Caspian Sea leading to the Black Sea.
Despite the rejection of the initial port development plan by a Western consortium, with the project subsequently awarded to a Chinese firm, a major Georgian port remains unfinished. China rejects Western accusations regarding corruption and construction delays, insisting that investment returns must be guaranteed and geopolitical risks must remain contained.
The United States requires strong leverage points to reclaim the Anaklia contract, as the ruling Georgian Dream party shows little motivation for unconditional compliance with Washington following unmet promises from the European Union. Any failure by the US to act decisively in this arena would significantly aid Washington’s competitors in undermining the TRIPP route.
The global strategic competition between China and Russia on one side, and the United States on the other, compels Washington to intensify cooperation in new spheres of influence, such as the Caucasus and Central Asia, despite the inherent political and economic risks involved.
