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We need cool heads in the UK-Russian double-agent dispute

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Bilateral relations between the UK and Russia are at their lowest in years, thanks to persistent sense of deep mistrust between the two strong nations.

This week, British Prime Minister Theresa May imposed sanctions against Moscow over an incident in Salisbury, England, early this month, when a former Russian-UK double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were discovered slumped on a bench.

The UK authorities allege that a Soviet-era nerve agent called Novichok was used in the attack and are blaming Russia for using a chemical weapon on British soil. But what is bizarre about the allegations is that the British authorities are on record saying there are still investigating circumstances around the attack, yet they are already blaming Moscow.

Sanctions imposed by Prime Minister May include the expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats accused of being spies, limiting ties between the two countries and also freezing of Russian state assets in the UK.

Now, acting on a matter which is under investigation and where there is no concrete conclusion to make, the UK move is rather serious.

But the truth is Russia won’t simply turn the other cheek. The world can be assured of a similar response from Moscow, a strong retaliation.

The only notable consolation, in my view, is that Moscow has undertaken to cooperate with London on the Novichok investigation, as long as Russia is not treated as an accused but rather as an equal partner in the probe.

The US, France and Germany have already voiced their public support for the UK in the matter. Quite unsurprising, given that all are key members of NATO which imposed economic sanctions against Moscow through the European Union (EU) following the Eastern Ukraine uprisings by pro-Russian separatists a couple of years ago.

The on-going war of words between the UK and its allies on the one hand and Russia on the other does no one any good. The two countries at loggerheads are critical players in the world stage. Both are permanent members of the UN Security Council and possess veto powers. If their dispute is escalated to the world body it can only get nastier.

I’ve argued previously that regardless of the cause of differences in the international community it is important to pause, and give peace a chance. Both the UK and Russia need each other in their pursuit of world peace. The two countries are, in their own right, superpowers.

I notice that sadly in times of political differences opportunists jump in to take advantage to sow division. The Liberal Democrats in the UK are of the unpopular view that the English team should boycott the FIFA World Cup scheduled to take place in Russia in June. Such a populist standpoint is to be expected when politicians are too inward-looking to notice the bigger picture.

I can see no country not participating in the World Cup due to a mysterious attack on a former double agent and his daughter in a park in England.

Just as well that FIFA regulations do not allow governments (read politicians) to be involved in the running of the game. Otherwise ordinary citizens of the world who choose peace and sport would be the losers.

The dispute between Russia and the UK has the potential to escalate, especially when one reads the less-diplomatic utterances of the UK Defence Secretary Gavin Wiiliamson and promises, or threats of countermeasures by Moscow.

There is ample time to bring the two parties to a round-table where, treating each other with mutual respect, an amicable solution could be found.

The fact that the chemical that killed a double agent and his daughter in England was manufactured in Russia after World War One does not mean its usage is the exclusive preserve of Moscow. Assault rifles AK-47 were manufactured in Russia, but the fact they are used in battle-grounds all over the world does not mean Russian president Vladimir Putin is the behind-the-scenes commander.

In this era of globalization, where the world has become one big global village, weapons of war manufactured in one country can easily find their way to hundreds of other countries without the control or authorization of the manufacturing country. This is what the UK and its allies need to bear in mind, and recognize as fact. The anti-Putin band-wagon will solve nothing. If ever the world needed cool heads, it is now.

 

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