ESPER IN LONDON: U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper unloaded on Russia in remarks this morning at London’s Royal United Services Institute, which bills itself as the world’s oldest independent think tank on international defense and security

“Russia’s invasion of Georgia in 2008, its annexation of Crimea in 2014, its continued aggression in Ukraine, and its efforts to serve as a spoiler to peace in Syria demonstrate Moscow’s unwillingness to be a responsible international actor, even as far away as Venezuela,” Esper said. “We see Russia making allegiances with discredited and failing regimes in an intent to promote instability.”