Prepared by Messenger Staff
U.S. Ambassador to Georgia Announces Retirement
U.S. Ambassador to Georgia Robin Dunnigan has announced her retirement from diplomatic service, calling it a personal decision after more than three decades of representing the United States abroad.
"After 33 years representing the United States as a diplomat, I have made the personal decision to retire," Dunnigan said in a statement released on June 5. "This is a fully personal decision. I have not been asked to return by my government."
Dunnigan has served as ambassador in Tbilisi since 2023 and plans to depart in July. Her announcement comes amid increasing strains in U.S.-Georgia relations and months after the return of President Trump to the White House.
"Serving as the U.S. Ambassador to Georgia has been the greatest honor and privilege of my entire career," she said, adding that she is "forever proud" of the work done by her team in advancing U.S.-Georgia ties.
She thanked Georgians for their warm welcome, describing their hospitality as unmatched. "I am more certain today than ever that the core values that bind Americans and Georgians will ensure that our special partnership and friendship endures."
Until her departure, she said, she remains committed to strengthening bilateral relations.
Before her role in Georgia, Dunnigan held several senior diplomatic positions, including Deputy Assistant Secretary for Central and Eastern Europe and Chargé d'Affaires in Austria.
NATO Parliamentary Assembly Scales Back Georgia Delegation's Role Over Democratic Concerns
The NATO Parliamentary Assembly (PA) has suspended meetings of the Georgia-NATO Interparliamentary Council (GNIC) and scaled down the Georgian delegation's privileges, citing growing concerns about democratic decline in the country. The decision was confirmed in a written response to Netgazeti and reflects a shift in how the Assembly engages with Georgia's political leadership.
According to NATO PA, the decision was taken by its Standing Committee, the Assembly's governing body, during its April 2025 session, concluding a six-month review process that began in November 2024. While formal ties with the Georgian Parliament remain intact, the Assembly said it would keep them "under review," while strengthening communication with civil society and political actors across the spectrum.
"The Standing Committee also agreed to keep relations with the Georgian Parliament under review; to maintain engagement with political forces across the political spectrum; and to step up engagement with civil society," the Assembly stated.
Although NATO PA did not detail which privileges were reduced, Georgian media outlet Tabula reported that the number of plenary seats allocated to the Georgian delegation had been reduced from five to three. This move was reportedly aimed at preventing the ruling Georgian Dream party from absorbing seats originally intended for the now-boycotting opposition.
According to the same reports, the Georgian delegation may no longer propose amendments during plenary sessions or participate in key programs such as the Mediterranean and Middle East Special Group (GSM) seminars and certain subcommittee visits.
In response, Georgian Dream MP Givi Mikanadze dismissed the media claims as misinformation. Speaking to journalists, he stated that he and fellow MP Mariam Lashkhi took part in the GSM seminar in Antalya, Turkey, and attended the NATO PA Spring Session in Dayton, Ohio. "Invitations have already arrived for future sessions as well," he said, calling the reports "another attempt at disseminating lies."
