Why Georgia is important for Putin’s geopolitical strategy

 Georgia holds a deeply strategic and symbolic importance in Vladimir Putin’s geopolitical strategy, as it represents a critical flashpoint between Russian imperial ambition and Western integration in the post-Soviet space. Located in the South Caucasus, Georgia serves as a geographic gateway between Europe and Asia and is a vital transit corridor for energy resources flowing from the Caspian Sea to Europe, bypassing Russia. This alone makes Georgia strategically significant, as it challenges Russia's monopoly over regional energy routes. For Putin, who seeks to reassert Russian dominance over former Soviet republics and counter NATO’s eastward expansion, Georgia represents both a security concern and a political opportunity to project Russian influence.

Historically, Georgia was part of the Russian Empire and later the Soviet Union, but after gaining independence in 1991, it pivoted strongly toward the West. Georgia's aspirations to join NATO and the European Union have been seen by Moscow as a direct threat to its sphere of influence. This tension came to a head in 2008, when Russian forces invaded Georgia following rising tensions in the separatist regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia—areas Russia continues to occupy and recognize as independent. This military intervention was a clear message to both Georgia and the West that Russia would not tolerate further NATO encroachment near its borders. By controlling these breakaway regions, Putin has effectively limited Georgia's ability to join NATO, since the alliance is reluctant to admit countries with unresolved territorial conflicts.

Furthermore, Georgia’s strategic position on the Black Sea is of immense importance. It allows access to important maritime routes and provides a buffer zone between Russia and Turkey, a NATO member. Putin understands that if Georgia becomes fully integrated into Western institutions, it would mark a significant loss of Russian influence in the Caucasus and could embolden similar aspirations in neighboring countries like Armenia and Azerbaijan.

In essence, Georgia is a vital piece in Putin’s long-term goal of restoring Russian hegemony in the post-Soviet space. It is a country whose Western alignment threatens the Russian-led regional order, and whose geopolitical location challenges Russian control over energy and security routes in the Caucasus. For these reasons, keeping Georgia under pressure—through military occupation, political destabilization, and diplomatic isolation—remains a key element of Putin’s geopolitical strategy.