Ben Hodges, former commander of the US Army in Europe hopes Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, Natia Turnava is right and that the Georgian government will move out energetically on the Anaklia deep sea port project.

As Lt. Gen. Hodges told the Accent, Anaklia deep sea port will significantly improve Georgia’s economic situation and its security.

“I have confidence in the desire of Georgian citizens to want to have a better economic future and a more secure future, free from any Russian pressure. A new Port of Anaklia can help them achieve this. If Georgia does become the portal between Eurasia and Europe, which this future Port of Anaklia can enable, then many European businesses will want to invest there, which in turn, will cause many European countries to take much more interest in Georgia’s security,” Hodges told the Accent.

Georgia’s Economy Minister said on Thursday that the statement made by General Ben Hodges on the Anaklia deep sea port project is incorrect’.

"This statement certainly is incorrect, it is not based on the real facts," the minister told reporters.

On January 31, Ben Hodges, former commander of the US Army in Europe told the Accent:

“I am sad to see that the government of Georgia has not fully supported this effort and has, instead, given in to pressure from the Kremlin”.

The Government of Georgia has decided to terminate its contract with the Anaklia Development Consortium, Deputy Prime-Minister, Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure, Maia Tskitishvili told reporters on January 9, noting that new tender documents will be prepared for Anaklia deep sea port construction.

The Anaklia Development Consortium commented on the government’s decision later on January 9. Levan Akhvlediani, Consortium’s Director General said they would take the Georgian government to international court over the termination of the contract.

Anaklia Deep Sea Port project has strong backing from the U.S.

In June 2019, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said following the meeting with Mamuka Bakhtadze, then Prime Minister of Georgia:

"Finally, I communicated our hope that Georgia completes the port project. The project and others will enhance Georgia’s relationship with free economies and prevent Georgia from falling prey to Russian or Chinese economic influence. Those pretended friends do not have Georgia’s best interests at heart."

/Marika Chubinidze