{"id":36790,"date":"2017-08-01T14:10:51","date_gmt":"2017-08-01T14:10:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2017\/08\/01\/pence-pledges-support-for-georgia-condemns-russian-moves\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T03:10:54","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T03:10:54","slug":"pence-pledges-support-for-georgia-condemns-russian-moves","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/flashpoints\/2017\/08\/01\/pence-pledges-support-for-georgia-condemns-russian-moves\/","title":{"rendered":"Pence pledges support for Georgia, condemns Russian moves"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

MOSCOW \u2014 U.S. Vice President Mike Pence pledged support Tuesday for the former Soviet republic of Georgia, his second stop on a European trip backing nations that feel threatened by Russian aggression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Russia and Georgia fought a brief war in 2008, which lead to two breakaway Georgian regions, South Ossetia and Abkhazia, declaring independence. Russia has since been supporting the regions both financially and militarily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. \u201cstrongly condemns Russia\u2019s occupation on Georgian soil,\u201d Pence said Tuesday at a joint news conference with the Georgian prime minister in Tbilisi, the Georgian capital. \u201cWe will reject any claim at any time by any nation that undermines this enduring principle.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The visit comes a day after Pence met with the presidents of three NATO countries \u2014 Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania \u2014 in the Estonian capital of Tallinn and pledged that \u201can attack on one of us is an attack on us all.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Georgia and the three Baltic nations were all occupied for nearly five decades by Soviet troops before regaining their independence in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Later on Tuesday Pence will inspect troops taking part in joint U.S.-Georgian military exercises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pence\u2019s European trip comes several days after the U.S. Senate voted last week to approve the new financial sanctions against Moscow. The legislation bars U.S. President Donald Trump from easing or waiving the penalties on Russia unless Congress agrees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pence told reporters on Tuesday that Trump would sign a bill on a new package of U.S. sanctions against Russia, adding the package was \u201cimproved significantly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bill underwent revisions to address concerns voiced by American oil and natural gas companies that sanctions specific to Russia\u2019s energy sector could backfire on them to Moscow\u2019s benefit. U.S. lawmakers said they also made adjustments so the sanctions on Russia\u2019s energy sector didn\u2019t undercut the ability of U.S. allies in Europe to get access to oil and gas resources outside of Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Russia on Friday ordered the U.S. Embassy and three U.S. consulates in Russia to drastically cut its personnel there. President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday that means 755 staffers have to go. Russia also ordered to shut down the U.S. Embassy\u2019s recreational compound on the outskirts of Moscow. The Russian leader warned that he has more tricks up his sleeve to hurt the U.S., but he voiced hope that he wouldn\u2019t need to use them.<\/p>\n\n\n\t