Day: September 20, 2025

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, visited Tbilisi on September 19, meeting with senior Georgian Dream government officials as well as the ruling party’s founder and honorary chairman, Bidzina Ivanishvili, to discuss economic cooperation.

Ivanishvili hosted the UAE leader, who arrived for a one-day visit, alongside Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, Economy Minister Mariam Kvrivishvili, and Foreign Minister Maka Bochorishvili. The appearance was unusual for Ivanishvili, a billionaire widely regarded as the most powerful figure in Georgian Dream, who has returned to formal party politics yet holds no government post and generally avoids the public eye except at major party events.

Sheikh Mohamed’s visit follows Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s trip to the United Arab Emirates in January, where he signed a memorandum with Eagle Hills/EMAAR Properties, one of the UAE’s largest real estate developers, announcing plans for “the largest investment in Georgia’s history,” valued at USD 6 billion.

According to the Georgian Dream press release, during the meeting with Ivanishvili, the parties discussed economic ties and the UAE’s planned “six-billion” investment in Georgia.

“The economic links between Georgia and the UAE are growing stronger, which will bring greater benefits to both countries in the future,” Ivanishvili was quoted as telling the guest. “The investment you are making will bring Georgia and the UAE even closer.”

The press release quoted Sheikh Mohamed as thanking Ivanishvili for his “warm hospitality” and noting the UAE’s “[USD] 6 billion investment” in Georgia, which “will begin in the nearest days.”

“The friendly relations between our countries are important and beneficial for both parties, which is why I express readiness to invest more in Georgia, which is of particular personal interest to me as the country’s president,” Mohamed said, as quoted by Georgian Dream. The UAE leader also reportedly expressed readiness to fund the education of Georgian students in the UAE and help Georgian youth deepen their knowledge of artificial intelligence.

Meetings with Georgian Dream government officials

Kobakhidze, who greeted Sheikh Mohamed at the airport with a ceremonial red-carpet welcome, met with the UAE delegation alongside Kvrivishvili and Bochorishvili. According to the Georgian Dream government press release, Kobakhidze described the first visit by a UAE delegation led by the president as “having special significance” and “the greatest honor.”

“We have a great dynamic in our relations, with very close political and economic cooperation and partnership between the two countries,” Kobakhidze was quoted as saying, citing various UAE investments in Georgia, including projects by Eagle Hills/EMAAR and collaboration on developing a dry port. “Your visit will lay a firm foundation for our future productive cooperation in every direction,” Kobakhidze concluded.

Sheikh Mohamed, on his part, is quoted by the GD government as saying that the meeting with Kobakhidze following the GD PM’s January UAE trip “is a confirmation of continued cooperation.”

“There are firm ties between Georgia and the United Arab Emirates. In the future, this will be reaffirmed by our deepening cooperation and the implementation of many more projects, especially in the fields of trade, business, economy, industry, energy, and other priority sectors for both countries,” the UAE leader is quoted as saying in the government’s press release, highlighting growing trade ties worth “millions of dollars.” He was also cited as predicting continued economic cooperation “especially in the transport direction”

In his X post about the meeting with Kobakhidze, Sheikh Mohamed wrote that “UAE remains committed to strengthening partnerships across the Caucasus region, guided by its approach of building bridges of cooperation that foster collective growth, progress, and stability for all.”

Following the meeting, Georgian Dream Economy Minister Mariam Kvrivishvili and Emirati businessman Mohamed Alabbar, founder of EMAAR/Eagle Hills Group, signed agreements on two investment projects worth USD 6 billion, the press release added/

The visit and the meeting with Ivanishvili come amid Georgia’s increasing isolation from the West and a decline in visits and meetings with Western partners, including those in the U.S. and the EU.

In May, Ivanishvili declined to meet with then-U.S. Ambassador Robin Dunnigan, who said she wanted to deliver a message from Secretary of State Marco Rubio. At the time, Ivanishvili cited reasons including sanctions and fear of blackmail for refusing to hold U.S. meetings.

Also Read:

• 07/07/2025 – U.S. Ambassador: GD Sent “Threatening, Insulting, Unserious” Letter to Trump Administration
• 27/01/2025 –Georgian Dream PM Kobakhidze Visits UAE
• 13/01/2025 – GD Parliament Members Implicated in Abu-Dhabi Hotel Brawl
• 11/10/2023 – Georgia and UAE Sign Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)

TASS: Pashinyan appreciates dialogue with Putin and Mishustin

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that the dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin is constructive and trusting. He noted that issues that could cause difficulties are discussed at the meetings, and solutions are found in an open and cooperative atmosphere. Pashinyan also said that improving relations with Russia is beneficial and important, and that personal trust with Russian leaders plays a key role in strengthening cooperation. He made these remarks after the Civil Contract party congress in Yerevan (TASS).

Intended effect: The material shows Pashinyan’s positive tone towards Moscow, forming an image of strong and trusting relations with Russian leaders. This reduces the severity of criticism of Armenia in the Russian media, demonstrating Yerevan’s readiness for constructive cooperation and finding solutions to shared problems.

RIA Novosti: Zelenskyy faces “difficult decisions”

In his article on RIA Novosti, political analyst Dmitry Bavyrin writes that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is under pressure from the West, particularly the U.S. and Donald Trump, to make difficult decisions and that they are demanding a “deal.” Despite the pressure, the article notes, Kyiv refuses to accept Moscow’s terms. However, the country needs to raise $120 billion for next year, half of which is for the army. A transition to a “war economy” is possible amid the shortage of funds, which would entail reduced social obligations, increased mobilization, and a growing burden on the population. Bavyrin emphasizes that the upcoming decisions will be difficult for Ukrainian citizens (ria.ru).

Intended effect: The article emphasizes Ukraine’s economic challenges and reliance on external support, perpetuating the perception of a nation at a standstill due to Western pressure and an inability to reach compromises with Russia. This shapes the audience’s perception of an imminent deterioration in the lives of ordinary Ukrainians and of the weakness of Zelenskyy’s government.