25 Years of U.S.-Georgia Relations

The German Marshall Fund of the United States and the Government of Georgia in concert with The Heritage Foundation will host a conference marking the 25th Anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United States and Georgia. This conference will examine the background of the U.S.-Georgia strategic partnership, evaluate the current state of the relationship, and assess future prospects for deepening the already strong ties between the two countries.

Featuring Keynote RemarksThe Honorable Ted Poe (R-TX)

Co-Chairman of the Georgia Caucus, U.S. House of Representatives

Opening Remarks

H.E. David Bakradze, Ambassador of Georgia to the United States

Session 1
Political and Security Cooperation: Forging a More Democratic and Peaceful Future

H.E. Mikheil Janelidze, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia
Ambassador Kurt Volker, Executive Director, McCain Institute for International Leadership
Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, President, Gryphon Partners
Andrea Thompson, National Security Advisor to the Vice President of the United States 
Derek Chollet, Executive Vice President, The German Marshall Fund of the United States, and former Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (Moderator) 

Session 2
The Next Chapter in Georgia’s Economic Success Story: 
A Strategic Gateway for Regional Commerce

Bruce Andrews, Former Deputy Secretary of Commerce, U.S. Department of Commerce
Dev Jagadesan, Acting President and Chief Executive Officer, Overseas Private Investment Corporation
Irakli Matkava, First Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development, Georgia
Bridget Brink, Deputy Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of State
Thomas Melia, Fellow, George W. Bush Presidential Center, and former Assistant Administrator for Europe and Eurasia, USAID (Moderator) 

Closing Remarks
Luke Coffey, Director, Douglas and Sarah Allison Center for Foreign Policy Studies, 
The Heritage Foundation

Hosted by
Kim R. Holmes, Ph.D., Acting Senior Vice President, Research, The Heritage Foundation