"We must show up, or expect to lose," top U.S. diplomat on Bolton's trip and Washington's strategy

The U.S. is seeking to strengthen its strategic relationship with Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Wess Mitchell stated on Thursday in Washington, commenting on a top White House official's scheduled trip to the Caucasus.

President Trump's National Security Adviser John R. Bolton is expected to be in Baku on Oct 22.

In reply to Turan's Washington correspondent's question about what was at stake in the upcoming meetings in the regional capitals, W.Mitchell said, "in all three of these countries, you have vulnerable states face a lot of Russian pressure, but also see Chinese economic penetration."

"And the criticality of the Caucasus to Western energy, ensuring stability of that region is a very high priority for us," he added.

In the meantime, during his speech at the Atlantic Council on Thursday afternoon, W.Mitchell made it clear that Western Europe cannot become energy independent from countries lke Russia even if it supports projects like Nord Stream-2.

Moscow has lately faced several rounds of sanctions from the U.S. and the EU over allegations of interfering in the conflict in eastern Ukraine and election meddling, among other issues.

While outlining current U.S. strategy towards the region, W.Mitchell made it clear that, there is now "a new competition for influence in the world."

For Washington, he said, preparing for the return of great power competition begins at home by rebuilding foundations of U.S. economic power, reinvesting in national defense among others. Abroad, it means "rebalancing burdens with allies and recalibrating international institutions that no longer match strategic reality..." he said, urging that, from Baltics to Caucasus, "America"s rivals are expanding their political, military and commercial influence."

When it comes to the current U.S. policy towards Caucasus, Balkans, and Eastern Europe, W.Mitchel said, Washington will support sovereignty, democratic reforms, European aspirations, non-recognition of territorial claims.

"For NATO allies, our message is clear: America"s commitment to Article 5 is ironclad. For non-NATO partners... we will support your God-given right to national independence... America continues to help those who help themselves in the struggle for freedom."

Mitchell said, for far too long, the West did not take competition seriously here. After the Cold War, many in the West came to believe that history had ended and that enduring realities like geography, history, and the nation no longer mattered.

"Russia is again a military factor in this region, following the invasions of Georgia and Ukraine. Well beyond the frontier, Russia uses manipulative energy tactics, corruption, and propaganda to weaken Western nations from w/in and undermine their bonds with the US."

"Even a casual look at the map today should lead us to question the assumptions that animated past policies and turn our attention to the urgent task of strengthening the West to contest the growing influence of our rivals," he added.

The current U.S. strategy, as he outlined, is guided by certain principles:

1. Compete for positive influence. That requires active diplomacy; includes strengthening public diplomacy. "We must show up, or expect to lose," he said,

2. Expect those we help to "not abet our rivals... [making] the region more vulnerable to Russia".
3. America will respect the national independence and sovereignty of our allies...

4. America expects states to respect the rights of their neighbors.

As for democracy, W.Mitchell said, Washington will use it to aggressively advance its national interests.

Speaking at the event, David Kramer, former deputy assistant secretary of state on human right issues, urged Washington to step up its support for democratic forces in the region. "Democracy and human rights have to be central to who we are."

When it comes to countering the Russian threat in the region, Kramer said, bolstering the neighbors of Russia is "the best thing we can do." "We should not take any option off the table. We need to make sure that Putin understand we will respond should he do something else."

In his speech at the event, George Kent, deputy assistant secretary of State who recently returned from the Caucasus, said that all regional countries are suffering from lack of reliable justice system, which is the key critical component for their democratic and economic developments.

"The governments and economists are not able to create jobs for all of their citizens in the absence of a reliable justice sector," he said, adding "... if you don't have a functioning justice sector to limit corruptions, that is a way of influence from malign actors, including Russia."

Kent also highlighted the importance of independent media and civil society as key factors for the region's democratic development.

A.Raufoglu

Washington D.C.