As Ukraine intensifies its attacks on Moscow’s Black Sea fleet, a recent agreement between the separatist leader of Abkhazia, Georgia, Aslan Bzhania, and Russia to set up a naval base in the Black Sea town of Ochamchire has sparked alarm in Georgia.
The Georgian president, Salome Zurabishvili, addressed the parliament, stating that Russia’s plans pose a direct threat to the security of the Black Sea region. As a result, Georgia could become a key battleground of sorts in the ongoing war between Vladimir Putin’s Russia and Zelensky’s troops in Ukraine.
“Russia’s plan to transform the Ochamchire port into its navy base is aimed at shifting the confrontation into the Black Sea, into our territorial waters, and at creating a threat to the strategic perspective of the Black Sea,” President Zurabishvili said during her speech.
Abkhazia, a disputed territory in northwestern Georgia, has been recognised as an independent state by Russia, while the majority of UN member states still regard it as sovereign Georgian territory. The signing of the agreement to establish a Russian naval base in Ochamchire further complicates the geopolitical dynamics in the region.
Ochamchire has served as a base for Russian patrol vessels in the Black Sea since 2009. However, it was previously deemed unsuitable for larger vessels due to its shallow waters.
In October, Ukraine’s intelligence service reported that Russia was actively engaged in “reconstructing the port infrastructure in some places to ensure that warships can be based there”.
The move has prompted Georgia to voice its concerns over the potential militarisation of the Black Sea and the implications for regional stability. President Zurabishvili’s denouncement comes at a time when the conflict between Ukraine and Russia has been escalating, particularly in the Black Sea region.
While Abkhazia remains a point of contention between Georgia and Russia, the establishment of a Russian naval base in Ochamchire could exacerbate tensions and draw Georgia into the broader geopolitical conflict.
