Eyeing Russia, US Defense Chief Heads To Black Sea Region
NDTV
In the visits to Georgia, Romania and Ukraine, the United States wants to expand defense support but also sees problems of democratic development and corruption.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin headed to the Black Sea region Sunday aiming to shore up alliances with countries pressured by Russia and show gratitude for their contributions to the two-decade war in Afghanistan.
Austin will visit Georgia, Romania and Ukraine before taking part in the in-person defense ministers summit at NATO in Brussels on October 21-22.
"We are reassuring and reinforcing the sovereignty of countries that are on the front lines of Russian aggression," a senior US defense official told reporters ahead of the trip.
All three countries are in the NATO orbit -- Romania a full member and Georgia and Ukraine partner states.
