On Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced the suspension of the country’s permanent mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in retaliation to the alliance’s decision to expel members of the Russian mission earlier this month.
The Russian Foreign Ministry’s statement mentioned that NATO did not provide any reason for its decision and that there have been two other such unilateral reductions of the Russian mission by the alliance, in 2015 and 2018. According to the statement: “NATO actions have shown that the bloc is not interested in an equal dialogue or joint efforts to defuse military-political tension.”
Consequently, Russia suspended its Permanent Mission to NATO, including its chief military representative. The NATO Military Liaison Mission in Moscow has also been suspended along with the withdrawal of the accreditation of its employees from November 1. Furthermore, the NATO Information Office at the Belgium embassy in Moscow is being shut down. However, the Russian ambassador to Belgium has been allowed to maintain emergency ties with the alliance.
Responding to the announcement, NATO said, “We regret these steps.” “NATO’s policy towards Russia remains consistent. We have strengthened our deterrence and defence in response to Russia’s aggressive actions, while at the same time we remain open to dialogue, including through the NATO-Russia council,” NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu said.
Likewise, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas regretted Moscow’s decision saying “it will seriously damage the relationship.”
Earlier this month, NATO expelled eight members of the Russian mission, calling them “undeclared Russian intelligence officers,” and reduced the size of the Russian mission to just ten personnel. At that time, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko called NATO’s actions deceitful and accused the Organization of using Moscow as a “bogeyman.” Similar sentiments were echoed in the Russian Foreign Ministry’s recent statement, in which it said, “The myth about the alleged “Russian threat” is being promoted, in part, to strengthen the bloc’s internal affinity and to make it look important in the current geopolitical circumstances.”
The relationship between Russia and NATO have been threatening to reach this tipping point for quite some time now. Last month, Russia warned against NATO’s increasing presence in Ukraine through military drills at the border. Such instances suggest that the tensions between the alliance and Russia are at an all-time high in the post-Cold War era, with the 2014 Russian annexation of Crimea serving as a major inflexion point.
Russia Suspends Diplomatic Mission to NATO Amid Espionage Row
Tensions between NATO and Russia are at an all-time high in the post-Cold War era, with the 2014 Russian annexation of Crimea serving as a major inflexion point.
October 19, 2021
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov SOURCE: REUTERS