West expels Russian diplomats, intelligence officials over spy poisoning

WASHINGTON, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Under Western coordination, U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday ordered the expulsion of 60 Russian diplomats and intelligence officials and the closure of the Russian Consulate in Seattle, in response to the poisoning of an ex-Russian spy in Britain.

U.S. EXPULSION

Sixty Russian officials, including 12 from the Russian mission at the United Nations, were asked to leave the United States within seven days, as they "have abused their privilege of residence in the United States," according to the State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert.

Also on the list were 48 intelligence officials of the Russian Consulate General in Seattle. The consulate was also ordered to close.

U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley said in an announcement that the Russian officials in New York used the United Nations as a safe haven for dangerous activities within our own borders."

"The United States takes this action with NATO allies and partners around the world in response to Russia's use of military-grade chemical weapon on the soil of the United Kingdom," said U.S. officials.

The United States called on Russia "to accept responsibility for its actions and to demonstrate to the world that it is capable of living up to its international commitments and responsibilities as a member of the U.N. Security Council to uphold international peace and security."

Earlier, the White House said in an announcement that the closure of the Russian Consulate in Seattle was due to its proximity to one of the U.S. submarine bases and Boeing.

It explained that the U.S. move will make the United States safer and reduce the Russian's ability to spy on the United States.

It noted that "the United States stands ready to cooperate to build a better relationship with Russia, but this can only happen with a change in the Russian government's behavior."

RUSSIA VOWS TO RETALIATE

The U.S. expulsion move was later echoed by France, Germany, Canada, Italy, Czech, Poland, Romania, Ukraine and Lithuania, among others, which also announced expulsion of Russian diplomats.

European Council President Donald Tusk said 14 EU member states have decided to expel Russian diplomats.

"Today's extraordinary international response by our allies stands in history as the largest collective expulsion of Russian intelligence officers ever and will help defend our shared security," said British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson on Twitter.

He added that "Russia cannot break international rules with impunity."

In his protest, Russia Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov said that Moscow will give adequate "mirror-like" response with regard to each case in the coming days.

The Russian Foreign Ministry also said later that the West's expulsion of its diplomats is an unfriendly step, and vowed to react to it accordingly.

WORSENING WEST-RUSSIA TIES

U.S. experts said the West's move would further escalate the confrontation with Russia in all areas.

Richard Haass, president of U.S. Council on Foreign Relations, tweeted that the U.S. expulsion decision was "less than optimal/creative as will likely lead to Moscow responding in kind."

He suggested the U.S. government to choose "asymmetrical response," such as targeted economic and travel sanctions and "increased public diplomacy vs Putin" so that "costs fall mostly on Russia."

However, the Trump administration has been reluctant to attack more vehemently at Russia, as it said that "the door for dialogue is open" in this case.

That may indicate that Trump remains hope for bettering the U.S. relations with Russia, and today's action is but a symbolic gesture under both the domestic and the West's pressure to respond to the poisoning attack in Britain, said experts.

Earlier this month, Britain announced the expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats and freezing of Russian state assets in Britain. It also announced a suspension of all planned high-level contacts with Russia, and a boycott of this year's World Cup in Russia by ministers and royal family members. Moscow later expelled an equal number of British diplomats in response.

Former Russian double agent Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, were found unconscious on a bench outside a shopping center in Britain's southwestern city of Salisbury on March 4. They remain in critical condition in hospital.

Britain claims the pair was exposed to a nerve agent and holds Russia responsible. The Russian government has denied any role in the incident.