NATO expels eight Russian intelligence agents
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, this Thursday, October 7, 2021. REUTERS - POOL
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NATO announced on Wednesday January 6 the expulsion of eight Russian agents.
This Thursday, the secretary-general of the Alliance detailed the decision.
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With our correspondent in Brussels,
Pierre Benazet
The decision to withdraw the accreditation of eight members of the Russian delegation to NATO was taken because they were undeclared intelligence officers, says NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
It is a new surge of fever as it occurs repeatedly between the Atlantic Alliance and Russia since the annexation of Crimea in 2014. But it is also a concretization of the posture adopted at the
top of NATO
in June to define Russia as a major challenge.
“
Relations between NATO and Russia are at their lowest point since the end of the Cold War.
And that's because of Russian behavior,
said Jens Stoltenberg.
We have seen an increase in malicious activity from Russia especially in Europe and therefore we must act.
We are ready to engage in a meaningful dialogue with Russia.
"
Jens Stoltenberg met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the United Nations Assembly.
They could not agree on restarting the dialogue.
But Moscow stresses that the expulsions that have taken place in the meantime will do nothing to help the resumption of the NATO-Russia council meetings, the last of which took place more than two years ago.
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To read also: NATO concerned about the challenges posed by China and Russia
This mission will see its maximum number reduced to 10 people from 30 before a first expulsion of seven members of the mission four years ago after the poisoning of the former Russian agent Sergei Skripal.
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