tallinn u.s. vice president mike pence monday assure baltic state u.s. support face aggression russia tell washington firmly back nato doctrine collective defense pence comment presidents estonia latvia lithuania ahead russian war game doorstep clearly intend reassure follow russia 2014 annexation crimea ukraine u.s. president donald trump early lukewarm support nato visit nato brussels headquarter may trump jar ally restate u.s. support critical portion alliance charter instead berate members spend enough defense trump since say support nato charter article requirement member alliance defend come attack strong unite nato necessary today point since collapse communism quarter-century ago threat loom large baltic state specter aggression unpredictable neighbor east pence say news conference three baltic presidents president donald trump unite state stand firmly behind article pledge mutual defense attack one us attack us all russia schedule next month hold large-scale military maneuver ally belarus u.s. army top general europe say month zapad war game could trojan horse result military equipment leave belarus warn russia continue seek redraw international border force undermine democracies sovereign nations divide free nations europe one another lithuania president dalia grybauskaite tell lithuanian radio nato air-policing missions would double russian-led zapad exercise pence also due visit montenegro alliance new member make stop georgia aspire member fight brief war russia 2008. vp pence baltics voice support mutual defense nato