UK to build international coalition against Russia

Former diplomat warns new, more combative
strategy will be counter-productive

In Depth

The Government plans to shift its strategy from conciliating
Russia to direct opposition, says The Guardian, believing the groundwork has
already been laid – but at least one high-ranking former diplomat
says this will be a mistake.

A Whitehall official told the paper: “The Foreign Secretary
regards Russia’s response to [the chemical attack in the Syrian
town of] Douma and Salisbury as a turning point and thinks there is
international support to do more.

“The areas the UK are most likely to pursue are countering
Russian disinformation and finding a mechanism to enforce
accountability for the use of chemical weapons.”

A cross-party consensus is developing in parliament to respond
to Russian corruption, aggression and mendacity as security and
foreign policy threats – rather than prioritising trade and other
economic matters.

Jeremy Corbyn has been less willing to point the finger at
Russia, but last month The Daily Telegraph said he was being “openly
disowned by his own MPs amid accusations that he has sided with
President Assad and Vladimir Putin over military intervention in
Syria”.

Ministers wanting to impose fresh sanctions would therefore find
significant support on Labour benches. According to The Guardian,
they would like other nations to join them in a “containment”
strategy for Russia. This would involve cybersecurity, Nato’s
military position, more sanctions and tackling Russian
propaganda.

Out-and-out lies

As it tries to consolidate an international consensus, the UK
will make the case that Russia is “a state uninterested in
co-operating to reach a common understanding of the truth”.

Alicia Kearns of the Foreign Office said: “When we are dealing
with most malign states or even terror groups, an element of truth
is expected to increase the efficacy of their disinformation, but
with Russia there is no commitment, or adherence, to the
truth.”

The Guardian says British diplomats feel there is a need to
accept that Russia is not playing by the rules – and to “call out”
its falsehoods.

But some experts feel so combative an approach would be an
error. Sir Anthony Brenton, the British ambassador to Russia
between 2004 and 2008, said the best strategy was to pursue areas
of common interest, such as nuclear disarmament, tackling terrorism
and limiting cyberwarfare.

He said: “Elementary diplomacy goes a long way with the Russians
and we need to get back to that.”