A bipartisan congressional delegation is expected to visit emerging democracies near Russia’s borders this week in an effort to assure allies that the United States won’t stand for Russian aggression, according to a release first obtained by THE WEEKLY STANDARD.
The diplomatic mission comes after months of unease over President Donald Trump’s pledges to improve relations with the Kremlin, his campaign’s initially tenuous support for Russia’s neighbors, and his criticism of NATO.
Lawmakers, led by top members of the House Democracy Partnership (HDP), will visit three countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The trip will demonstrate to allies that Congress is ready to bolster democracy overseas and fight back against Russian aggression, said Illinois congressman Peter Roskam, chairman of the HDP.
“Authoritarianism is on the rise around the world. Russia, in particular, is attempting to undermine democratic institutions and subvert democracy,” Roskam said. “It’s important to send a clear message to our friends and allies around the world: the United States Congress stands with you.”
The HDP has previously led trips to countries in the region, including Ukraine, Georgia, and Kyrgyzstan. This visit takes on additional weight, however, as allies are frightened by hostility from the Kremlin and instability in the United States, a senior congressional official familiar with HDP told TWS.
“There’s definitely a palpable sense of uncertainty, to put it nicely,” the official said. “Transitions in general are scary, if you’re a country without a strong democratic tradition they’re even scarier—we really, really want to reassure them that U.S. support isn’t going anywhere.”
“These guys are scared,” the official added. “Russia is the big dog in their neighborhood.”
Senators also traveled to the region in late December to warn Putin about Russian interference in the U.S. election and to reinforce support for NATO. That trip, led by Arizona senator John McCain, South Carolina senator Lindsey Graham, and Minnesota senator Amy Klobuchar, included visits to Ukraine, Georgia, and Estonia.
