Prepared by Messenger Staff
U.S. Senior Advisor Jonathan Askonas Visits Georgia to Discuss TRIPP Route
Jonathan Askonas, Senior Advisor at the U.S. State Department, is visiting Georgia for discussions on the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi reported on November 18. The transportation route was established following the August 8 peace summit between Armenia and Azerbaijan, mediated by the United States.
During his visit, Askonas toured the Sadakhlo border crossing, which was largely constructed and equipped with U.S. support. He is also scheduled to meet with officials from Georgia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Government Administration, and representatives of international financial institutions.
The visit comes amid strained relations between Washington and Tbilisi. Georgian Dream officials say they are taking a stance of "strategic patience" with the Trump administration, which has so far remained largely silent toward the ruling party. Georgian Dream maintains that it seeks to restore the strategic partnership with the United States, framing the effort as contingent on the outcome of Trump's "battle with the deep state."
On November 18, Levan Zhorzholiani, Head of the Georgian Dream Government Administration, met with Askonas and the U.S. Department of State delegation. The meeting also included Deputy GD Foreign Minister Aleksandre Khvtisiashvili and U.S. Chargé d'Affaires in Georgia Alan S. Purcell.
According to a government press release, Zhorzholiani expressed dissatisfaction with the current state of U.S.-Georgia relations and reiterated readiness to renew the strategic partnership "from a clean slate" based on a clear roadmap. He also briefed the U.S. delegation on major infrastructure investments in railways, roads, and ports.
The parties discussed Georgia's role in the TRIPP project, with the press release noting that the route "could have a positive effect on the region, particularly in terms of the security guarantees provided by the U.S. side for cargo movement." The meeting also highlighted the Trump administration's efforts to foster peace in the South Caucasus, with Georgia's role in facilitating normalization between Armenia and Azerbaijan described as positive.
Kobakhidze Rejects Extradition of Saakashvili to Ukraine
Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has firmly rejected the possibility of transferring former President Mikheil Saakashvili to Ukraine, responding to remarks by Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak that the matter is actively under discussion in Kyiv.
Podolyak told TV Pirveli that "as for the possibility of bringing Mr. Saakashvili, this is part of our agenda. Ukraine is actively working on this issue." His comments prompted immediate reactions in Tbilisi, where Saakashvili remains a politically sensitive and polarizing figure.
Speaking on Adjara Public Broadcaster, Kobakhidze dismissed the idea of extradition, recalling Podolyak's past statements regarding Georgia's role in regional conflicts. "No one wanted Georgia to be involved in the war. At that time, Podolyak specifically demanded the opening of a second front. Everything is clear. When such people talk to us about handing over Saakashvili, of course, we cannot take such messages seriously," the Prime Minister said.
Kobakhidze emphasized that Georgia will not consider external demands regarding Saakashvili. "Our decisions regarding Georgian citizens are taken exclusively within our national legal and political framework. The issue of Mr. Saakashvili is a domestic matter, and no foreign pressure can influence it," he added.
Saakashvili, a former Georgian president and later governor of Ukraine's Odessa region, has been serving a prison sentence in Georgia on charges widely viewed by his supporters as politically motivated. His imprisonment remains a flashpoint in Georgia's internal politics, drawing attention from international observers and foreign governments.
