Infighting Weakens Georgia's Government

Georgia's government has entered into crisis. Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili's dismissal of Defense Minister Irakli Alasania on Nov. 4 has led to a number of high-profile resignations within the Georgian Cabinet and the exit of Alasania's party from the ruling Georgian Dream coalition. Although these moves are not likely to shift Georgia's broader Western orientation, domestic political instability could complicate Georgian Dream's position in the government and potentially delay Georgia's EU and NATO integration efforts until the situation stabilizes. Russia, in turn, will strive to use the situation to serve its own interests in undermining Tbilisi's Western integration.