October 19, 2021—In another indication of global disintegration, Russia severed its ties with the 30-member NATO alliance. Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced the country’s withdrawal on Monday. It came in reaction to NATO expelling eight Russian diplomats from Russia’s mission to the alliance earlier this month. NATO had accused the representatives of spying on the Western alliance for Russia.
The historic decision to end relations with NATO signifies the growing tensions between Russia and the West, and in particular the NATO alliance. Russia had taken part in NATO’s Partnership for Peace program since 1994.
While a formal statement addressing the latest developments from the Russian Foreign Ministry is yet to be released, Lavrov said that urgent issues between Russia and the alliance should be redirected to the Russian Ambassador in Belgium.
‘No Equal Dialogue’
At Monday’s press conference, Lavrov acknowledged several reasons leading up to the decision to disassociate with the Western treaty. Mainly, communications between Russia and NATO have continually declined since 2014, prompting Russia to withdraw staff from the mission in 2015 and 2018.
According to Lavrov, NATO officials had “announced a complete cessation of practical cooperation in civilian areas and the military, where we have no contacts at all.” Furthermore, the alliance banned Russians from visiting headquarters for “maintaining elementary communication” with NATO leaders.
“This corroborates the fact that NATO is not interested in an equal dialogue with us or any joint work,” Lavrov said. “If this is the case, we do not see much reason in continuing to pretend that things may change in the foreseeable future.”
Russia ‘Interfering In Democracies’
At the 67th Annual Session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly held earlier this month, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg warned of consequences should Russia prove uncooperative in diplomatic affairs. “Russia is responsible for aggressive actions against its neighbors, a massive military build-up from the Barents Sea to the Mediterranean, and attempts to interfere in our democracies. China is assertively using its might to coerce other countries and control its own people. And China is coming closer to us,” he stated at the convention.
‘Consistent’ Policy
U.S. State Department Spokesman Ned Price acknowledged the break during a briefing to the press on Monday.
“We do note that NATO recently withdrew the accreditation of eight members of the Russian mission to NATO who were serving as undeclared Russian intelligence officers,” Price said, adding, “NATO’s policy towards Russia remains consistent. It has strengthened its deterrence and its defense in response to Russia’s aggressive action while, at the same time, leaving the door open for meaningful dialogue. That continues to be the case.”
Following A Trend
Earlier this year, Russia withdrew from the open-sky treaty, that allowed surveillance flights at military facilities. Prior to this decision, former US President Donald Trump, pulled out of the open-sky treaty, saying Russian violations had destabilized it to remain a party to the United States. The United States completed its withdrawal from the agreement in November 2020.
South China Sea Exercises
Meanwhile, one of the world’s strongest military rivalries is taking place in the South China Sea.
White House Spokesperson Jen Psaki commented on reports about China’s military exercises, including a hypersonic missile test over the Summer. “We welcome stiff competition, but we not — we do not want that competition to veer into conflict. And that is certainly what we convey privately as well,” Psaki told reporters on Monday.
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