U.S. State Department Delegation in Tbilisi for Bilateral Meetings With Georgian Dream, Opposition, and Patriarch
By Messenger Staff
Friday, May 29, 2026
A U.S. State Department delegation visited Tbilisi from May 24 to 29, holding meetings with Georgian Dream officials, opposition politicians, business representatives, faith leaders, and the newly enthroned Patriarch Shio III, the U.S. Embassy confirmed.
The delegation included Charles Yockey, Special Assistant to the U.S. Secretary of State, and Peter Andreoli, Director of the Office for Russian and Caucasian Affairs, who had previously visited Georgia in March. The Embassy said the meetings would focus on "what is needed to set our two countries on a path to improved bilateral relations and increased prosperity for the Georgian and American people."
The visit marks the second U.S. delegation to Tbilisi in May, following a trip by a deputy assistant secretary earlier in the month. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Armenia on May 26 but had no planned stop in Georgia.
The delegation met Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on May 25, with Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili and Government Administration Head Levan Zhorzholiani also attending. The government said Kobakhidze reaffirmed readiness to "renew bilateral relations from a clean slate, based on mutual respect," with particular emphasis on Georgia's role as a "trustworthy and reliable partner in the region." On May 27, the delegation met Botchorishvili separately, with talks focusing on bilateral relations, the Middle Corridor, and Georgia's role as a regional transportation hub.
On May 25, the delegation met several opposition politicians, including Grigol Gegelia of Lelo, Levan Tsutskiridze of Freedom Square, and Ana Dolidze of For People, at the Tbilisi Marriott hotel. A separate meeting took place in parliament with For Georgia MPs, who said discussions focused on Georgia's foreign policy and the party's resolution on the Russia-Tskhinvali alliance treaty, noting that "Georgian Dream has remained silent" on the matter.
On May 28, the delegation met Coalition for Change leaders Nika Gvaramia of Ahali, Zurab Japaridze of Girchi-More Freedom, and Giga Lemonjava of Droa. Gvaramia said the Georgian Dream and "Russia standing behind it" were obstructing stability. Japaridze said "American companies will not be able to enter this country as long as there is no independent judiciary and no rule of law." Lemonjava described Georgian Dream as "the main source of instability, violence, and turbulence" and said anyone wanting American investment in Georgia should understand it was "being obstructed by Bidzina Ivanishvili's regime."
On May 27, the delegation met Patriarch Shio III at the Patriarchate, with several senior clerics in attendance. The Patriarchate said the delegation congratulated Shio III on his enthronement and "repeatedly emphasized the role of the Orthodox Church in Georgia's history," with both sides expressing readiness to deepen cooperation around shared Christian values. Shio III invited the delegation to events marking the 1,700th anniversary of Christianity being declared the state religion in Georgia.
