**US Suspends Strategic Partnership with Georgia**
The US has suspended its strategic partnership with Georgia. This decision comes after the country’s ruling party, Georgian Dream (GD), decided to stop trying to join the European Union.
The US government is unhappy with this move and says it regrets GD’s decision. In a statement, Mathew Miller from the US State Department said: “We condemn the excessive force used against Georgians who are protesting this betrayal of their constitution.”
The strategic partnership between the US and Georgia was signed in 2009 to promote cooperation in areas such as democracy, defense, economy, and culture.
**Why did relations between the US and Georgia deteriorate?**
Relations between the two countries have been strained for some time. The GD government has faced criticism for its democratic backsliding, including adopting laws that restrict freedom of speech and the media. There have also been allegations of election fraud in recent years.
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