Russia is now working to temporarily close its diplomatic representation to NATO. According to Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, this is Russia’s response to the recent expulsion of eight Russian diplomats.
The Russian Foreign Minister, meanwhile, informed that Russia is withdrawing the accreditation of NATO personnel at its Moscow office, Reuters reported.
Thus, official diplomatic lines of communication between NATO and Russia were officially suspended.
On Monday afternoon, NATO did not comment on Russia’s decision to freeze contacts.
low goals
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg repeated to VG 10 days ago that relations between NATO and Russia are at their lowest level since the Cold War.
NATO suspended all military cooperation with Russia in 2014, after Russia annexed Crimea. But the two sides have been in diplomatic contact through the office of the Russian representative to NATO, and a similar NATO office in Moscow.
But two weeks ago, NATO chose to expel eight Russian diplomats from its office in Brussels, reducing the number of Russian representatives in that office from 20 to 10.
– They engaged in an activity incompatible with their status, and therefore their accreditation was withdrawn, Stoltenberg told VG at a press conference the day after the decision.
– He added that they were intelligence officers.
It’s over now More than two years since the meeting of the NATO-Russia Cooperation Council. Stoltenberg met Foreign Minister Lavrov in New York during the United Nations summit in September.
– It was not possible to agree on a new meeting. But NATO and I are ready as soon as they are ready to meet us, says Stoltenberg.
Read also
Draws a red line for the Stor government: Norway must not respond to Russia’s demands
Coming to Tromsø
Next Tuesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced his arrival in Tromso and held a ministerial meeting of the Barents Council of the Cooperation Authority. There, he will meet the new Norwegian Foreign Minister, Anneken Hoetfeldt (Labour), who is hosting the meeting.
“Coffee trailblazer. Certified pop culture lover. Infuriatingly humble gamer.”
