In a clear retaliatory move after NATO expelled its diplomats, Russia on Monday suspended its mission at NATO and ordered the closure of the alliance’s office in Moscow. The counter-retaliatory measure comes weeks after NATO withdrew the accreditation of eight Russian officials to its Brussels headquarters, saying it believes they have been secretly working as Russian intelligence officers.
Moscow has dismissed the accusations as baseless and had promised retaliatory steps if NATO did not change its stance. Soon after expelling the Russian diplomats, NATO had halved the size at its headquarters in Moscow from 20 to 10.
Announcing the suspension of Russia’s mission at NATO, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that NATO’s military liaison and information offices in the Russian capital will also be shut.
Sergey Lavrov charged that NATO’s action has confirmed that the alliance was not interested in any kind of equal dialogue or joint work. Lavrov added that contacts between the Western military alliance and Russia could be maintained through the Russian Embassy in Belgium.
Reacting to Russia ordering to shut its office in Moscow, NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu said: “We regret these steps. NATO’s policy towards Russia remains consistent. We have strengthened our deterrence and defense in response to Russia’s aggressive actions, while at the same time we remain open to dialogue, including through the NATO-Russia Council.”
The annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in 2014 by NATO strained the relationship with the two forces to a point of no return. While NATO suspended practical cooperation with Russia, only channels open for high-level meetings and for military-to-military cooperation were kept open.
Saisha Kamla Dudha 
Sourabh Shetty