Geopolitics
Governance/Geopolitics
Skripal poisoning: Australia, Canada join 20 other nations in expelling Russian diplomats

Just Earth News | @justearthnews | 27 Mar 2018, 06:46 am Print

Skripal poisoning: Australia, Canada join 20 other nations in expelling Russian diplomats

Moscow/Canberra/Ottawa: A day after the United States of America declared that it was going to expel at least 60 Russian diplomats in connection with the spy poisoning in United Kingdom's Salisbury region, Canada and Australia along with 20 other nations have followed suit.

According to local reports, Canada and Australia are going to expel four and two diplomats respectively. In addition, Ottawa announced that it will deny three applications by the Russian government for additional diplomatic staff in Canada.

Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said that the decision was taken in solidarity with the United Kingdom.

London has announced earlier this month that it will expel 23 Russian diplomats after former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found poisoned in England's Salisbury.

A Russian made nerve agent was allegedly used to poison the two. The father and daughter duo are said to be in a critical but stable condition in a hospital.

Freeland said, "The four have been identified as intelligence officers or individuals who have used their diplomatic status to undermine Canada's security or interfere in our democracy."

Her statement added, "We are taking these measures in solidarity with the United Kingdom.

"These measures are not aimed at the Russian people, with whom Canadians have long and fruitful ties. Canada remains committed to dialogue and co-operation with Russia on issues where we face common challenges.

"The nerve agent attack represents a clear threat to the rules-based international order and to the rules that were established by the international community to ensure chemical weapons would never again destroy human lives."

Reacting strongly against the Canadian decision, Moscow stated that the move was 'highly deplorable and outrageous' and has threatened retaliation.

In a Twitter post, the Russian Embassy in Canada posted, "By taking for granted the totally baseless British accusations, in stark violation of due process ahead of ongoing investigation, if any, of the Skripal case, Canada obediently follows the US/UK designed dangerous confrontational policy.

"This unfriendly move under false and biased pretext delivers yet another serious blow to Russian-Canadian relations and will be met with resolve and reciprocity."

According to a statement released by the Canadian government, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and US President Donald Trump spoke on the phone on Monday about "measures taken by Canada and the United States to support our common ally against Russia in response to the egregious nerve agent attack in Salisbury."

Meanwhile, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has said that the attack in the UK was a attack 'on all of us'.

"That is why we are taking this action today with another 23 nations round the world. We are defying this lawlessness, this recklessness of Russia," Turnbull said.

Russia has condemned this move too.

In a statement, Moscow's foreign ministry said, "It goes without saying that this unfriendly act by this group of countries will not go without notice and we will react to it."

Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson thanked its allies for the extraordinary response.

In an interview with the BBC, Johnson said that the 'world has had enough' and urged Russia to change its reckless behaviour.

Over 100 Russian diplomats either have been or will be expelled by more than 20 nations.


Count (in numbers):

  • 60 USA
  • 23 UK
  • 13 Ukraine
  • 4 Canada, France, Germany, Poland
  • 3 Czech Republic, Lithuania
  • 2 Albania, Australia, Denmark, Netherlands, Italy, Spain
  • 1 Croatia, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Macedonia, Norway, Romania, Sweden 


Iceland has suspended high-level talks with Russia and said that its ministers will not attend the Football World Cup, scheduled to be played in Russia in June. Similarly, UK too have stated that it won't be sending the members of the Royal Family during the mega tournament.


USA Action

In a major development, the US on Monday announced their decision to expel 60 Russian diplomats from its nation.

Among the 60 expelled diplomats are 48 envoys at the Russian embassy in Washington and 12 envoys at the United Nations in New York.

The White House said the diplomats were expelled in response to the poisoning of a former Russian spy in the UK.

The US also announced the closure of the Russian consulate in Seattle. 

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement: "Today President Donald J. Trump ordered the expulsion of dozens of Russian intelligence officers from the United States and the closure of the Russian consulate in Seattle due to its proximity to one of our submarine bases and Boeing."

"The United States takes this action in conjunction with our NATO allies and partners around the world in response to Russia’s use of a military-grade chemical weapon on the soil of the United Kingdom, the latest in its ongoing pattern of destabilizing activities around the world," she said.

Speaking further on the decision taken by the US, Sanders said: "Today’s actions make the United States safer by reducing Russia’s ability to spy on Americans and to conduct covert operations that threaten America’s national security."

Earlier in 2016, then US President Barack Obama had expelled 35 Russian diplomats after it was alleged that the latter hacked the presidential campaign of Hillary Clinton and her Democratic Party.

Russia denied the accusations.

 

Freeland Image: Twitter

Putin Image: kremlin.ru/Wikipedia

Turnbull Image: Veni Markovski/Wikipedia