"Georgia is not just a European country, but one of the most ancient European countries"

Mikhail Saakashvili’s assertion that Georgia is not merely a European country, but one of the most ancient European countries, reflects profound ideas about national identity, heritage, and belonging. At face value, he is situating Georgia geographically and culturally within Europe, countering any misconception that the country lies solely between Asia and Europe or belongs more to an ambiguous borderland. The emphasis on Georgia’s antiquity underscores its deep historical roots, presence, and influence in the evolution of European civilization.

Georgia’s claim to antiquity is well-founded. The country boasts a recorded history stretching back more than three millennia, with archeological evidence of advanced early societies, including Colchis and Iberia, existing long before the formation of many modern European nations. Georgian kingdoms participated in the broader historical movements of Europe, exchanging influences with Ancient Greece and Rome, adopting Christianity in the early fourth century, earlier than most of Europe, and developing a unique alphabet and literary tradition. These facts establish Georgia as a cradle of culture, religion, and statehood in the European context.

Saakashvili also seeks to affirm Georgia’s present and future aspirations. By invoking ancient ties to Europe, he draws a symbolic lineage that justifies Georgia’s modern political and cultural orientation toward European institutions and values. For Georgians, this framing is crucial: it counters narratives that seek to marginalize or orientalize the nation due to its geographic position at the crossroads of East and West. Instead, Georgia’s age-old presence as a European nation legitimizes its contemporary pursuit of integration with European structures, including the European Union and NATO.

Ultimately, the quote conveys a message not only about history but also about identity and legitimacy. Georgia’s claim as one of the most ancient European countries powerfully asserts its belonging, pride, and unwavering connection to the broader European family throughout its tumultuous history and into the future.