NATO Ejects Russians over Espionage

[ORAC]

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/nato-ejects-russians-over-espionage-8rpmjn0rt

Nato ejects Russians over espionage

Nato has halved the size of Russia’s mission to the alliance in response to suspected malign activities such as espionage and killings in member states.

An official said the alliance had withdrawn the accreditation of eight members of the Russian mission, all of whom were “undeclared Russian intelligence officers”. A further two vacant posts will also be scrapped, reducing the size of the Russian mission from 20 to 10.

In the aftermath of the 2018 poisonings in Salisbury, the size of the Russian mission was reduced from 30 to 20 as part of a mass expulsion of spies across allied nations — the only other time Nato has taken such collective action against Moscow.

The official said the decision was “based on intelligence” on whichthey would not comment. However, it comes after allegations made in April about suspected Russian involvement in an explosion at an ammunition depot in the Czech Republic in 2014 that killed two people.

The decision will take effect at the end of the month. “We have strengthened our deterrence and defence in response to Russia’s aggressive actions, while at the same time we remain open for a meaningful dialogue,” the Nato official said.

[etudiant]

Lead by donkeys, just as in WW!.
China is eating the Western world's lunch, yet our leaders are still stupidly hidebound by cold war memes, rather than recognize that we need Russia inside our tent, rather than pushing it into an unwilling embrace of China.

[WE Branch Fanatic]

Have you ever thought that Putin and Xi might be fellow travellers? Along with the Iranian leadership?

Everyone thought Moscow had come in from the cold, when they annexed Crimea, started a war in Eastern Ukraine, and started interfering in Western democratic systems, build ip their military - particularly in terms of nuclear capability,, and returning to almost Cold War levels of aircraft and submarine activity in the Atlantic? Not forgetting the use of radiological agents and chemical weapons on British soil,

[Asturias56]

In the sense that they are all working together with the same plan - no . It hasn't been like that since 1950 really (even earlier when you think of Tito).

However in the sense that all three really can't stand the US (and most of the rest of the democracies) criticising them and "meddling" (their words not mine) then yes - they have similar overall objectives which they pursue, generally, separately.

They also have issues between themselves of course - Iran is a Moslem dictatorship and the Chinese oppress Moslems, Russia and Iran are vying for influence in the Middle East, Russia and China have had their border differences over the years.

But they all are happy when they see one of the others stirring up trouble - for a start it deflects attention from their own clever tricks and secret plans

[WE Branch Fanatic]

Russia considers itself a democracy - apart from Putin being extended in term again and again, and opposition politicians and investigative journalists have a high rate of being killed by poisoning from unusual chemicals being put in their tea, or falling from bridges or windows in tall buildings. China seems have have become a post Communist state with everything based on the power and personality of Xi, and Iran sees the Uighurs as the wrong sort of Muslim, so they look the other way. All three reject the international system of rules in favour of 'might is right'. China has an insatiable appetite to natural resources, which Iran and Russia are happy to supply.

All three have problems with internal opposition to their regimes, which is one of the reasons they seek to find adversaries to distract their populations.

[etudiant]

In the sense that they are all working together with the same plan - no . It hasn't been like that since 1950 really (even earlier when you think of Tito).

However in the sense that all three really can't stand the US (and most of the rest of the democracies) criticising them and "meddling" (their words not mine) then yes - they have similar overall objectives which they pursue, generally, separately.

They also have issues between themselves of course - Iran is a Moslem dictatorship and the Chinese oppress Moslems, Russia and Iran are vying for influence in the Middle East, Russia and China have had their border differences over the years.

But they all are happy when they see one of the others stirring up trouble - for a start it deflects attention from their own clever tricks and secret plans

Think that is one of the underappreciated downsides of the US emphasizing sanctions and military prowess.rather than economic and cultural dimensions. It transforms the perception of the US from that of an amiable but very capable bystander into one of an ever present menace.
That sharply increases the appeal of striking US assets no matter how pointless.

[Asturias56]

"All three reject the international system of rules in favour of 'might is right' - none of them accept the International Criminal Court - but then neither does the USA

Etudiant has a point - US sanctions are often aimed at individuals in the errant countries these days - that makes it "personal" to the elites there. Harder to convince the man in the street when that the US is out to get him when all that's been stopped is the ability of the countries leaders to invest in NY property

[ORAC]

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/russia-freezes-out-nato-in-payback-for-spy-expulsions-3qd6lddbt

Russia freezes out Nato in payback for spy expulsions

Russia has said it is freezing ties with Nato after relations between the two plunged to a new low over a spying row.

Sergei Lavrov (https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/russian-minister-sergei-lavrov-takes-secret-mistress-svetlana-polyakova-on-foreign-trips-ssnvsm0zv), the foreign minister, said Russia was suspending the work of its mission to Nato and closing down the alliance’s military liaison and information offices in Moscow.

He said the move was retaliation for the expulsion by Nato this month of eight members of Moscow’s mission (https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/nato-ejects-russians-over-espionage-8rpmjn0rt) in Brussels, where the alliance has its headquarters. Nato said the Russians were “undeclared intelligence officers”. Russia denied the claim.

“Nato is not interested in equitable dialogue and joint work,” Lavrov, 71, said. “If that’s the case, then we don’t see the need to keep pretending that changes in the foreseeable future are possible.” He said the decision would come into force by November 1.

Lavrov said emergency contact between Nato and Russia would now be carried out through the Russian embassy in Belgium. “If Nato has any urgent affairs, they might address our ambassador to Belgium on those matters,” he said…..

[Traffic_Is_Er_Was]

NATO Ejects Russians over EspionageDo the Russians get one of those ties?