TBILISI: The West is allegedly attempting to turn Georgia into a pawn of its broader geopolitical strategy, according to political scientist Ilgar Velizade. He claims that the Western powers are focusing their efforts on Georgia and other South Caucasus countries to expand their influence in the region. According to Trend News Agency, Velizade argues that this strategy is not new and has been previously applied to Azerbaijan without success. Azerbaijan has consistently maintained its sovereignty in international relations and resisted external meddling. Velizade suggests that similar attempts have been made to interfere in Azerbaijan's internal politics, but these efforts have largely been ineffective. Velizade further asserts that Armenia's internal political landscape is currently under Western influence, and a similar strategy is being applied in Georgia. However, he notes that the Georgian authorities have demonstrated foresight by implementing legislation that restricts the distribution of Western gran ts, thereby limiting external influence. He emphasizes that Georgia acts as a strategic "gateway" to Central Asia for the West, which is eager to maintain control under the guise of promoting democratic rights. The ultimate goal, Velizade suggests, is to install a compliant government in Georgia, akin to the situation in Armenia, thereby enabling the West to dominate the South Caucasus. Despite these efforts, Velizade believes the Georgian authorities are aware of the potential consequences and are actively resisting becoming a pawn in the West's geopolitical game. He concludes that the West's overarching aim is to consolidate its influence in the region, but Georgian leadership is determined to prevent this from happening.