#SecureBlackSea team conducted field research in Tbilisi, meeting with officials from the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, members of parliament, security practitioners, civil society experts, and academic specialists. Interviews underscored Georgia’s strong Euro-Atlantic orientation, its NATO membership aspirations, and its perception of Russia as the primary security threat.
Participants highlighted the vulnerability created by unresolved conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, noting that these tensions complicate regional cooperation and contribute to instability. Hybrid threats particularly disinformation campaigns targeting democratic institutions were identified as a major challenge. Experts expressed strong support for deeper NATO involvement in maritime security, cyber defence, and capacity-building. Georgia sees the Black Sea as the critical corridor linking Europe and Asia, emphasising the need for strengthened regional identity and more coordinated regional governance. These insights provide crucial context for understanding the unique security dynamics shaping the Georgian perspective within the Wider Black Sea Region.