NATO expels eight Russian diplomats by espionage

NATO has expelled eight diplomats from the Russian Embassy before the Alliance for being alleged spies, confirmed EFE allied sources on Wednesday. "We can c

NATO expels eight Russian diplomats by espionage

NATO has expelled eight diplomats from the Russian Embassy before the Alliance for being alleged spies, confirmed EFE allied sources on Wednesday.

"We can confirm that we have withdrawn the accreditation of eight members of the Russian mission to NATO, who were undeclared Russian intelligence officials," the sources of the Alliance indicated.

They added that NATO has also reduced the total number of diplomats that Russia can accredit before the alliance to ten.

"NATO's policy towards Russia remains consistent. We have strengthened our deterrent and defense in response to the aggressive actions of Russia, while at the same time we remain open for significant dialogue," he said.

The general secretary of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, recognized on Tuesday that the relations of the Transatlantic Alliance and Russia are in "its lowest point since the end of the Cold War", with Moscow each time "more aggressive" abroad and More "repressive" at home level.

"I think we should realize that the relationship between the transatlantic family and Russia is at its lowest point since the end of the Cold War," he said at a conference at Georgetown University, in Washington.

The general secretary of NATO indicated as a point of inflection the "illegal annexation" of Crimea by Russia in 2014 and its "continued destabilization" in eastern Ukraine.

"The panorama is serious," he warned Stoltenberg, who will preside over a meeting tomorrow Thursday in Brussels of the North Atlantic Council with the National Allied Security Councilors, previously scheduled.

At the Summit of NATO Leaders held in June, the alliance took China clearly as a threat to its safety, and also bet on starting a process of adaptation to improve your response to challenges such as Russia's aggressiveness, cyber attacks or climate change.

In 2018, NATO has already expelled seven Russian diplomats in response to the poisoning of the former SERGUÉI SKRIPAL in Salisbury (southern England).

Date Of Update: 08 October 2021, 16:59