Wednesday, March 18, 2026

Obama-Saakashvili debriefing with Tom de Waal

TBILISI, DFWatch – We asked Caucasus expert Tom de Waal a few questions following Monday’s meeting between U.S. president Barack Obama and Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili in Washington. de Waal is a journalist and writer, previously Caucasus editor of Institute for War and Peace Reporting, and now senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International … Read more

Pressured Georgian media reaffirm defense group

TBILISI, DFWatch – Media workers in the former Soviet republic of Georgia met Wednesday to reaffirm their mutual pledge to support eachother in case of harassment from authorities. “The main goal is to fight against illegal actions, protecting each other and solidarity when the media is in trouble,” says Mamuka Glonti, who took the initiative … Read more

Saakashvili's account of Obama meeting challenged

TBILISI, DFWatch – The Georgian president says the results of his meeting with U.S. president Barack Obama exceeded his expectations. President Mikheil Saakashvili said the issues he discussed with Obama at the White House Monday represent “a new and higher level of cooperation between the two countries; on the one hand military security and on … Read more

U.S. to take more active role in building Georgia's defense

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili says that his country’s military cooperation with the United States is moving into a new phase. According Saakashvili’s press spokesperson, America no longer only prepares Georgian forces for tasks like anti-terrorism or the ISAF mission in Afghanistan, but takes an active role in building Georgia’s military capability. According … Read more

South Ossetian peace is fragile, say leaders

TBILISI, DFWatch – The leadership of Georgia’s breakaway region South Ossetia say an opposition politician’s quest to claim election victory threatens a fragile peace and may have serious consequences. Authorities released the statement after talks with opposition leader Alla Dzhioyeva, who has been campaigning on and off to claim victory after an election in November … Read more

Obama and Georgia's Saakashvili did not discuss Iran

TBILISI, DFWatch – According to the Georgian president’s administration, Iran was not on the agenda of Monday’s meeting between U.S. president Barack Obama and president Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgia. Before the meeting many had been speculating that the two would be discussing the increased tension between Iran and the U.S., especially in light of how … Read more

Obama's 'transfer of power' comment discussed in Tbilisi

TBILISI, DFWatch – Political Tbilisi is grabbing on to a phrase used by U.S. President Barack Obama yesterday after meeting the Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili about having a transfer of power after this falls parliamentary election in Georgia. “I want to express my appreciation for the work that’s been done in the past, but also … Read more

Whose election campaign will Georgia-U.S. summit benefit?

TBILISI, DFWatch – People in Georgia are looking forward to today’s meeting between the U.S. and Georgian presidents in Washington, both of whom are near the end of their terms. Analysts speculate that the summit may be part of either of their election campaigns, or is payback for Saakashvili accepting Russia as a member of … Read more