The Anaklia Deep Sea Port project remains without a confirmed investor, raising questions about whether China has lost interest in the strategic initiative. Former Georgian ambassador to China, Davit Aptsiauri, shared his perspective on the issue during an interview on BMGTV, suggesting that global geopolitical shifts and regional risks might have slowed progress.
According to Aptsiauri, the project’s complexity and sensitivity, extending beyond economic cooperation, likely prompted the Chinese state corporation CCCC to conduct additional risk assessments. “The world today is extremely changeable. Europe, the United States, and everyone are involved in these global processes; this naturally affects China as well. Given that the Anaklia project is not an ordinary one, I think additional analysis of certain risks is underway, especially considering the ongoing war in Ukraine,” he explained.
The government of Georgia announced in May 2024 that CCCC had been selected as the preferred investor for the Anaklia port. Then–Minister of Economy Levan Davitashvili stated that the company would soon be officially declared the winner. However, more than a year later, no final contract has been signed. Even during Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s recent visit to China with several ministers, official press releases made no mention of Anaklia, fueling speculation that the deal has stalled.
When asked whether the Georgian government might be deliberately postponing the signing to use the Anaklia issue as leverage in resetting relations with the United States, Aptsiauri did not rule it out. “It may be… A certain stage of expectation continues that there will be a response from America, which we have been waiting for so long,” he noted. As for China’s position, he added, “When risks increase, China becomes even more cautious, and perhaps that is the case here.”
