The diplomatic tensions between Russia and Britain escalated on Thursday as the Russian Foreign Ministry announced the expulsion of Britain’s defense attaché from the country. This move comes in retaliation against the British government, which had recently expelled the Russian defense attaché from its soil.
The Russian ministry stated that further retaliatory steps would be taken in response to what it deemed as “unfriendly” measures by London. The British diplomat, Capt. Adrian Coghill, was declared “persona non grata” and given a week to depart from Russia.
In a statement, the Russian ministry criticized the British government’s decision to expel the Russian defense attaché, describing it as a politically motivated action with a “Russophobic character” that harms bilateral relations. In response, Britain’s Minister of Defense, Grant Shapps, called the Russian action a “desperate move” on social media.
The strained relations between the two countries have been exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, leading to one of Europe’s bloodiest conflicts since World War II. The West, including Britain, has backed Ukraine with significant aid, further straining relations with Russia.
Last week, Britain also closed several Russian diplomatic facilities in the country, accusing Russia’s domestic intelligence agency of engaging in “malign activity” in Britain and Europe. The British government has imposed new restrictions on visas for Russian diplomats in response to these escalations.
The ongoing diplomatic tensions between Russia and Britain highlight the deepening rift between the two countries, with both sides taking retaliatory measures in response to perceived provocations.
