Georgia, Russia: Edging Toward Confrontation

Tensions between Russia and Georgia escalated again Feb. 1 as the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused Moscow of conspiring with breakaway regions to incite violence, thus giving Russian peacekeepers posted in those regions an excuse to remain. Georgia will enjoy significantly increased financial stability — and total oil and natural gas independence from Russia — in the coming year. This will enable Tbilisi to focus on resolving domestic conflicts. And with Georgia's Parliament due to start debating the removal of the Russian peacekeepers, the breakaway regions will be the flashpoints of renewed conflict.