TBILISI, Georgia — U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney condemned Russia for what he called an "illegitimate, unilateral attempt" to redraw Georgia's borders by force.
Speaking during a closely watched trip to this strategic South Caucasus nation on Thursday, Cheney also said the United States was "fully committed" to Georgian efforts to join NATO.
"Georgia will be in our alliance," Cheney told reporters while standing alongside Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili.
Cheney was visiting Georgia and two other ex-Soviet republics - Azerbaijan and Ukraine - that are nervous about Moscow's intentions.
"America will do its duty to work with the governments of Georgia and our other friends and allies to protect our common interests and to uphold our values," Cheney said in the joint appearance with Saakashvili.
"Russia's actions have cast grave doubts on Russia's intentions and on its reliability as an international partner," he added.
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