President Donald Trump joined the European Union, Canada, and Ukraine in condemning Russia and expelling dozens of diplomats Monday in retaliation for the chemical poisoning of an ex-Russian spy and his daughter living in the United Kingdom earlier in March.
Trump expelled 60 Russian diplomats and ordered the closure of the Russian Consulate General in Seattle because of its close proximity to U.S. submarine bases and the Boeing Company, which designs and builds military and commercial jets.
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said Trump wanted to make clear to Russia that “its actions have consequences.”
“The United States takes this action, in conjunction with our [North Atlantic Treaty Organization] allies and partners around the world, in response to Russia’s use of a military-grade chemical weapon on the soil of the United Kingdom, the latest in its ongoing pattern of destabilizing activities around the world,” Sanders said in a statement.
“Today’s actions make the United States safer by reducing Russia’s ability to spy on Americans and to conduct covert operations that threaten America’s national security,” Sanders continued. “With these steps, the United States and our allies and partners make clear to Russia that its actions have consequences.”
Although Sanders said that the U.S. still “stands ready to cooperate to build a better relationship with Russia,” she emphasized that this could only take place if there were significant changes “in the Russian government’s behavior.”
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Of the 60 Russians expelled, 48 were from the Russian embassy and 12 were from the United Nations, “who have abused their privilege of residence in the United States,” U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley said Monday. The U.S. determined that those 12 Russians “engaged in espionage activities that are adverse to our national security.”
“The president’s decision today shows that Russia’s actions have consequences,” Haley said. “Today, the United States and many of our friends are sending a clear message that we will not stand for Russia’s misconduct.”
The U.S. and other nations together expelled more than 100 Russian diplomats.
Related: Trump Adds Sanctions, Joins World Leaders in Condemning Russia Spy Poisoning
“Additional measures including further expulsions … are not to be excluded in the coming days and weeks,” European Council President Donald Tusk said Monday during a speech in Bulgaria. “We remain critical of the actions of the Russian government.”
Although many of Trump’s most vocal critics have accused him of being “soft” on Russia, the president’s actions Monday came more than a week after he condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin’s government for its multiple cyberattacks against the U.S. and imposed financial sanctions on five Russian entities and 19 individuals.
PoliZette writer Kathryn Blackhurst can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter.
(photo credit, homepage image: Donald Trump, CC BY-SA 2.0, by Gage Skidmore)
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