Russia plans worrisome military drills

Russia is preparing to amass about 100,000 troops in its western region, including near the borders of NATO member countries in the Baltics. The planned military exercise is stoking worries that Russia could attempt to seize territory in the Baltic NATO states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania the way it annexed portions of Ukraine and Georgia in recent years. Vice President Mike Pence is touring eastern European countries in attempt to reassure allies the United States would defend them against Russian aggression. In Georgia on Tuesday, Pence indicated the United States was willing to improve ties with Russia but for that to happen “Russia has to change its behavior,” referring to Russia’s support for separatists in eastern Ukraine and Syrian President Bashar Assad.