Diplomatic Row As U.K. Blames Russia For Spy Poisoning

46:49

March 15, 2018

Soldiers wearing protective clothing cover a tow truck in Hyde Road, Gillingham, Dorset, England as the investigation into the suspected nerve agent attack on Russian double agent Sergei Skripal continues Wednesday March 14, 2018. The army cordoned off a road in Dorset on Wednesday as the investigated the attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia. Authorities have cordoned off several sites in and near Salisbury, 90 miles (145 kilometers) southwest of London as part of their probe. (Andrew Matthews/PA via AP)

The U.K. expels 23 Russian diplomats in response to the poisoning of a former spy. We’ll look at the escalating tensions between Russia and America’s closest ally.

Highlight From This Show: 'This May Be Worse Than The Cold War,' Ex-Ambassador Says

Guests:

Ellen Barry, New York Times international correspondent. (@EllenBarryNYT)

Sam Greene, director of King's College London's Russia Institute. (@samagreene)

Michael McFaul, former U.S. ambassador to Russia, professor of political science, Stanford University. (@McFaul)

Natasha Bertrand, national security reporter, The Atlantic. (@natashabertrand)

From The Reading List:

CBS News: UK Announces Measures Against Russia For Attack On Ex-Spy — "British Prime Minister Theresa May announced punitive measures against Russia on Wednesday over the chemical weapon attack on Russian former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the English city of Salisbury."

Prime Minister Theresa May stood before Parliament and said without equivocation, the nerve agent poisoning of a former spy was the “unlawful use of force by the Russian state against the United Kingdom”. The UK is expelling almost two dozen Russian diplomats in response. Moscow says London is scapegoating Russia.
This hour, On Point: A poisoned spy, and a test of the US-UK special relationship.
--Meghna Chakrabarti

This program aired on March 15, 2018.