Georgian Independence Day was celebrated in Brussels on 4 June 2026 with a memorable reception at the BELvue Museum. The evening brought together diplomats, officials, friends of Georgia and members of the Georgian community for a celebration marked by dignity, warmth and exceptional class.

By Peter Sodermans, Honorary Consul of Georgia in Luxembourg

Georgia’s Independence Day reception on 4 June 2026 at Brussels’ BELvue Museum was an evening that will stay with me long after the last glass was raised and the last guest departed.

The venue itself set the tone perfectly. The BELvue — a museum dedicated to Belgium’s own journey through history, constitutional order, and democratic culture — proved an inspired choice for celebrating a nation that has walked a remarkably parallel path. As Ambassador Vakhtang Makharoblishvili — Georgia’s Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg, and Head of Mission to the EU — noted in his opening remarks, this was no accident: both Belgium and Georgia understand, in their own ways, what it means to anchor a national identity in the values of freedom, pluralism, and civilisational belonging.

1,700 Years of History in One Room

This year’s celebration carried special weight. Georgia marks the 1,700th anniversary of the adoption of Christianity as its state religion — a milestone that places the country’s roots in European civilisation far deeper than many realise. When Ambassador Makharoblishvili reminded the assembled guests that as early as the fourth century AD, Georgia anchored itself in the same spiritual and civilisational foundation upon which Europe was built, the room fell noticeably still. It was one of those moments where history becomes palpable.

The evening was hosted by the Ambassador alongside Mr. Irakli Beraia, Head of the Mission of Georgia to NATO, and Brigadier General Irakli Dzneladze, Military Representative of Georgia to NATO and the EU — a trio whose combined presence underscored just how seriously Georgia takes its Euro-Atlantic vocation.

The 2026 edition wasa a Grand Cru

The celebration of Georgia’s Independence Day in Brussels was marked by remarkable elegance, dignity and warmth. The setting, the presence of the Georgian, Belgian, European and NATO symbols, the refined Georgian wine and cuisine, and the traditional dress worn by several guests all contributed to an atmosphere of genuine cultural pride. Beyond the formal character of the occasion, the event also reflected the spirit of Georgian hospitality: generous, graceful and open. It was a beautiful reminder of Georgia’s European identity, its rich heritage and the deep friendship connecting Georgia with Belgium, Luxembourg and the wider European community.

A Progressive Nation, Long Before Its Time

One of the most striking passages in the Ambassador’s address was his reminder of what the First Democratic Republic of Georgia represented when it was proclaimed in 1918: political pluralism, civil liberties, and — remarkably — full women’s suffrage, placing Georgia among the most progressive nations of that era. These were not borrowed ideals, he emphasised. They were the natural expression of a people who had always considered themselves part of the European family.

It is a history worth telling more often, and more loudly.

Resilience, Growth, and the Road to Europe

The reception also offered a moment to reflect on Georgia’s remarkable economic trajectory. Despite significant geopolitical pressures — and the long shadow cast by Russia’s ongoing illegal occupation of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region — Georgia’s economy grew by 9.7% in 2024 and 7.5% in 2025. The European Commission’s most recent economic forecast projects continued strong growth in the years ahead.

This is not a small country passively waiting at Europe’s door. It is a nation actively building itself into a competitive, dynamic partner — a bridge at the crossroads of Europe and the East, through which energy, trade, and ideas flow between worlds.

Diplomacy as Strength

Perhaps the words that resonated most with me personally came near the close of the Ambassador’s address: “Diplomacy and dialogue are not signs of weakness. They are, in the most difficult moments, the greatest expressions of strength.”

As Honorary Consul of Georgia here in Luxembourg, and as someone who has had the privilege of deepening the bonds between our two countries — most recently through the planning of the Luxembourg–Georgia Pilot Expedition this coming September — I feel the truth of those words keenly. The relationship between Luxembourg and Georgia is built not on convenience, but on genuine conviction and shared values.

Looking Ahead

The evening at BELvue was a reminder of why this work matters. Georgia is not simply a EU candidate country on a list. It is a civilisation with deep European roots, a people of extraordinary resilience, and a nation with a great deal to offer its European partners.

As we look towards September and the pilot expedition that will bring a small group of aviators from Luxembourg all the way to the Kakheti wine region, I find myself thinking of the Ambassador’s closing toast: to Georgia, to Europe, and to a friendship that is much older and deeper than any disagreements, and stronger than any passing storm.

I could not have said it better myself.

Peter Sodermans is the Honorary Consul of Georgia in Luxembourg and former President of AOPA Luxembourg. He is organising the Luxembourg–Georgia Pilot Expedition 2026, taking place 29 August – 12 September 2026.