Xi Jinping's Black Sea strategy: pushing NATO west of Crimea and extending the PLA network through Georgia

On March 19, 2025, Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Bochorishvili said that Tbilisi would continue to develop the strategic Black Sea port of Anaklia regardless of "geopolitical factors," including pressure from the Trump administration.

This refers to Georgia's decision last year to remove American companies, which were considered key stakeholders in the project, from constructing the Anaklia Deepwater Port and handing it over to Chinese state-owned companies.

Former President Salome Zourabichvili confirmed China's intention to seize control of Georgia's port infrastructure.

Although the details of the agreement between Beijing and Tbilisi are still classified, the Georgian government has stated that China will invest at least $600 million in the port of Anaklia only at the first (out of nine) stages of reconstruction.