Yesterday Germany expelled four Russian diplomats. But today it gave the go-ahead for North Stream 2 – a symbolic slap on Russia’s wrist, followed by a extremely valuable decision in Russia’s favour. If I was Russian, I’d be far more pleased by the latter than annoyed by the former. Perhaps, when it comes to what really matters, things aren’t quite as bad as they seem. The West is willing to stamp its foot and shake its fist, but it isn’t willing to put its money where its mouth is....Economics supervening over geopolitics. Same with China.
From what I am reading from intel insiders, the expulsions were of spooks rather than "diplomats." Their assessment is that Russia will just reciprocate, leaving the West blind on the ground in Russia.
Irrussianality
Moving forward
Paul Robinson | Professor, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Ottawa
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