The Georgian government administration has released a letter from U.S. President Donald Trump, apparently written in response to Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s congratulatory message on the 250th anniversary of U.S. Independence, in which Trump says he looks forward to “strengthening cooperation.”
The administration released the letter in Georgian, and no original or English-language copy of the letter is publicly available.
“Mister Prime Minister,
Thank you very much for your congratulations on the 250th anniversary of America’s Independence. Independence Day is a celebration of the founding of our nation and of the enduring spirit of freedom, strength, and resilience that defines the American people. We are proud of the principles that have guided our country throughout its history, and we value the friendship of partners who share respect for these ideals. As we commemorate the 250th anniversary of our Independence, I am grateful that you are joining us in celebrating the American principles of life, liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness,” the first part of the letter reads, as quoted by the government administration.
The letter then continues: “I sincerely appreciate your thoughtful message. By working together to support sovereignty, security, and lasting prosperity, we can achieve meaningful progress. I look forward to strengthening our cooperation so that we can move together toward a safer, more prosperous, and more peaceful future.”
Contacts between Washington and Tbilisi, erstwhile close allies, have intensified amid the Georgian Dream government’s stated efforts to reset relations with the United States “from a clean slate” and resume the strategic partnership “with a specific roadmap.” Washington, under President Joe Biden, suspended its strategic partnership with Georgia in November 2024 amid the Tbilisi protests and later that year sanctioned the ruling party’s billionaire founder, Bidzina Ivanishvili. The Donald Trump administration has yet to reverse those decisions.
Kobakhidze again offered a reset when he addressed the U.S. Independence Day event on July 1 at the American Embassy in Tbilisi.
“Despite the challenges that have emerged in recent years, we remain convinced that the time has come to reboot our strategic partnership through a roadmap that sets our shared priorities, practical mechanisms for cooperation, and clearly defined strategic objectives,” Kobakhidze said, adding that Georgia “proposes a strategic partnership based on mutual respect, fairness, and a clear framework for cooperation.”
He said Tbilisi stands ready “to engage in direct dialogue to define shared priorities, establish practical mechanisms for implementation, and deliver measurable results for both nations,” noting that “ongoing engagements build solid momentum, reinforcing our optimism for a deeply constructive and forward-looking partnership.”
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