Georgia has chosen stability over provocation, dialogue over isolation, and long-term national interests over short-term political gains amid unresolved conflicts and constant external pressure. Such a statement the Georgian Foreign Minister made in Hungary, while addressing the Budapest Global Dialogue [BGD], where world leaders and officials were discussing global and regional security challenges.

"Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, it is a great honour to join you in Budapest for the 3rd Global Dialogue. I thank our Hungarian hosts and the organisers for creating a space where open conversation and strategic thinking are welcomed and encouraged.

The erosion of the global order and the growing spread of hybrid threats have made today`s security environment increasingly complex. I represent a nation that understands the true value of peace, having endured the devastating consequences of war time and again. I represent a Government that, amid an exceptionally challenging geopolitical landscape, has placed the defence of national sovereignty at the very heart of its policy. Georgia is an ancient nation that has survived centuries of turmoil by preserving its Christian and traditional values, and that continues today to defend these principles with resolve and conviction.

In today`s challenging environment, the concept of sovereignty has reemerged at the centre of political debate in different parts of the world. Sovereignty is not about isolation or rejecting cooperation. It is about responsibility. It is about the right - and the duty - of nations to make decisions based on their own history, their own interests, and the democratic will of their citizens. Without this foundation, no security architecture can be sustainable.

In recent years, Georgia has been placed under unprecedented international scrutiny. We have endured deliberate and unjust attacks - conducted under the claimed defence of democracy - yet directed against the will of the Georgian people, their elected government, and the legitimate actions of the state. We have clearly seen how international institutions, and even our genuine European aspirations, can at times be misused as instruments to exert pressure on sovereign nations and to challenge their sovereign rights. We have also witnessed the serious consequences that external interference in domestic affairs and the involvement of foreign actors in national politics can bring to any country. In such moments, resilience, and maturity of society become the strongest pillar of our statehood. Despite sustained disinformation campaigns and external pressure, Georgia stood firm.

Guided by a policy rooted in our national interests, we acted responsibly, defended our sovereignty, and protected the future of our state. Georgia`s experience illustrates this clearly. Situated at a geopolitical crossroads, facing unresolved conflict and constant external pressure, Georgia has chosen stability over provocation, dialogue over isolation, and long-term national interest over short-term political gain. This approach is not a sign of weakness. It is about survival - and peace. For Georgia, peace is not an abstract ideal - it is a vital necessity", - said Maka Botchorishvili.