Secretary of State Mike Pompeo should carry a tough message when he visits Tbilisi next week. The need for action stems from Georgia’s increasingly authoritarian governance.

Currently grappling with the aftermath of a contested election, Georgian security forces have been using water cannons and other weapons against protesters. But while these actions are serious and reflective of a broader disdain for human rights, Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia’s government is certain to play down any difficulties when Pompeo arrives. Instead, Gakharia is presenting Pompeo’s visit as a signal that the United States is actually very satisfied with the current state of relations. Pompeo must educate Gakharia to a better truth. Namely, that while the U.S. seeks friendship and mutually beneficial diplomatic and economic engagement, it will not turn a blind eye to rising authoritarianism. The State Department says that Pompeo will “express our support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, to urge further progress in democratic reforms.” Let’s hope he uses more robust language behind closed doors.