**US Lawmakers Raise Concerns Over Chinese Port Deal in Georgia**
A group of US lawmakers have expressed strong concerns over the Georgian government’s decision to give a Chinese company control of a strategic water port. The lawmakers are worried that this could harm Georgia’s democratic future and increase Chinese influence in the Black Sea region.
The lawmakers, who are part of the Helsinki Commission, said that they were troubled by the decision to award development rights for the Anaklia water port to a Chinese conglomerate. They cited the company’s track record of exploiting host nations through infrastructure development and fostering economic dependency.
**Concerns Over Chinese Influence**
The commission warned that putting the port under Chinese control would give up a key national asset to a government that does not share Georgia’s democratic values or its goal of joining Western security alliances. This could threaten the country’s long-term security, they said.
**Calls for Reconsideration**
The lawmakers urged the ruling Georgian Dream party to reconsider the deal and conduct a transparent bidding process for the port’s development. They also warned that China‘s growing presence in the Black Sea, in collaboration with Russia, makes the region less safe and restricts free trade and commerce.
**Previous Developments**
Just last week, Georgian Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Levan Davitashvili met with US Ambassador Robin Dunnigan to discuss economic cooperation between the two countries. The meeting came as the US is looking to strengthen its ties with Georgia in areas such as trade, innovation, logistics, energy, and development.
Read More @ civil.ge