WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Monday the United States is "very protective" of the Baltics in the face of a Russian naval exercise with China in the Baltic Sea and said the United States and its allies would be able to handle any threat. "We are very protective of that region," Trump said at a joint news conference with visiting Finland President Sauli Niinisto. A Russian naval exercise with China in the Baltic Sea has rattled tensions in the region and Trump has sought to reassure NATO allies there, sending Vice President Mike Pence on a recent trip. Niinisto said the United States, Finland and Sweden have also conducted training exercises in the Baltic region. Hopefully we won't have to handle them but if we do we'll be able to handle them," he said.

Source: The Star August 28, 2017 21:00 UTC