Joseph Biden is set to take office in January as the 46th U.S. president.

Mr. Biden's victory margin in the public vote overall stands at more than 5.9 million. His victory in the US Electoral College system, which determines who becomes president, is projected to be 306 to 232 - far above the 270 he needs to win.

Former US Ambassador to Ukraine, director of the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center John E. Herbst said that President-elect Biden will spend more time working with allies to raise the price and thwart Kremlin aggression.

“Biden understands well that Russian President Vladimir Putin is pursuing revisionist policies that threaten American interests. He will work more energetically and consistently against those policies,” Herbst told the Accent.

As he noted, “the Biden Administration will likely pursue closer relations with Georgia than the Trump Administration”:

“President-elect Biden understands the importance of helping Georgia pursue its own foreign and domestic policy choices. Georgia will receive more attention from the new team, but a free trade agreement between Georgia and U.S. may be a bridge too far; and, of course, questions about the domestic policy of the current leadership in Tbilisi – for instance, regarding Anaklia Deep Sea Port – is also a factor.”

As for the future relations between the Biden Administration and NATO. Herbst told the Accent:

“Biden will reinvigorate U.S. leadership in NATO and the Alliance itself. His Administration will be sympathetic to Georgia’s interest in joining NATO, but that sympathy does not necessarily mean the Administration will push for it.”

According to him, given the new reality in the South Caucasus, “it is likely the new Administration will pay more attention to Georgia and the region”.

/Marika Chubinidze