' “This use of a military-grade nerve agent, of a type developed by Russia, constitutes the first offensive use of a nerve agent in Europe since the Second World War,” said the statement from Trump, U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.''A joint statement by the leaders of the U.S., U.K., France and Germany said it is “highly likely” the Russian state is behind the poisoning of double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, adding that there is “no plausible alternative explanation.”
This emphatic condemnation of the “assault on U.K. sovereignty” signals a united response to Russia. One avenue for taking this response further is invoking Article 5 of NATO, the defense alliance of which all four are prominent members. Article 5 of the NATO charter enshrines the principle of “collective defense”—that an attack on one ally is an attack on all allies.
There are calls for a robust retaliation to deter the Russian state from doing anything similar again. British officials have suggested cyberattacks may be authorized against Russia. The U.K. could call on its NATO allies under Article 5 to joint it in “collective defense measures.”
If invoked, Article 5 obliges members to "assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking...such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force", leaving open a broad range of potential retaliatory measures, not just a military response. It has only been invoked once, by the U.S. after the 9/11 terror attack.
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“This use of a military-grade nerve agent, of a type developed by Russia, constitutes the first offensive use of a nerve agent in Europe since the Second World War,” said the statement from Trump, U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.'
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Joint Statement In FullWe, the leaders of France, Germany, the United States and the United Kingdom abhor the attack that took place against Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury, UK, on 4 March 2018. A British police officer who was also exposed in the attack remains seriously ill, and the lives of many innocent British citizens have been threatened. We express our sympathies to them all, and our admiration for the UK police and emergency services for their courageous response.
This use of a military-grade nerve agent, of a type developed by Russia, constitutes the first offensive use of a nerve agent in Europe since the Second World War. It is an assault on UK sovereignty and any such use by a State party is a clear violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention and a breach of international law. It threatens the security of us all.
The United Kingdom briefed thoroughly its allies that it was highly likely that Russia was responsible for the attack. We share the UK assessment that there is no plausible alternative explanation, and note that Russia's failure to address the legitimate request by the UK government further underlines its responsibility. We call on Russia to address all questions related to the attack in Salisbury. Russia should in particular provide full and complete disclosure of the Noichok programme to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
Our concerns are also heightened against the background of a pattern of earlier irresponsible Russian behaviour. We call on Russia to live up to its responsibilities as a member of the UN Security Council to uphold international peace and security.- Shane Croucher (
Source, March 15, 2018)
Context'..the Soviet Union was cut off from Western financial markets and was effectively under permanent sanctions..''..the members of the council of Europe must now think very carefully about how ultimately Russia is dealt with..''..Putin’s Russia .. feudalism..' - '..The Byzantine choice was fundamental in the evolution of Russian society and state compared to Western Europe..'Russia Is Ruled not By Responsible Politicians, But By Irresponsible Bureaucrats'..Russian strategy of hybrid influence and destabilization .. German Council on Foreign Relations.''German intelligence says Russia is trying to destabilize German society..' - '..war that Moscow is waging against the West..'