News
Trump Administration Confirms Russia can Replace Expelled Diplomats
Donald Trump’s State Department has confirmed that Russia can replace the 60 diplomats expelled from the United States this week.
“Donald Trump on Monday ordered the expulsion of 60 Russian diplomats the US identified as intelligence agents and the closure of the Russian consulate in Seattle, the most forceful action Trump has taken against Russia to date,” CNN reported at the time. “Of those being expelled, 48 of the alleged intelligence agents work at the Russian embassy in Washington and 12 are posted at the United Nations in New York.”
According to Julia Davis of the Russian Media Monitor, the investigative reporter who “watches Russia’s state TV so you don’t have to,” Russia was advised by the United States that “the doors are open.”
#Russia‘s state TV reports that an unnamed high-level White House source quietly told the Russians that the number of Russian diplomats in the U.S. is not being cut (they can send 60 other diplomats to replace the ones being expelled). They quote the source: “The doors are open.” pic.twitter.com/1GgaGHUdQD
— Julia Davis (@JuliaDavisNews) March 29, 2018
Davis cited Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova’s take:
#Russia‘s state TV: Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, says that 60 expelled Russian “diplomats” can be replaced by 60 others. The U.S. is reportedly not limiting the size of Russian diplomatic mission in the U.S., like Russia is doing to Britain.
60 out 🔁60 back in pic.twitter.com/vseD4IlxKj— Julia Davis (@JuliaDavisNews) March 30, 2018
Davis’ report was then confirmed with the State Department by USA Today’s Oren Dorell:
I asked @StateDept about this, and it’s true. Trump’s expulsion this week of 60 Russian diplomats does not require the Russia to reduce its staffing levels in the U.S. and vice versa. https://t.co/gQ22BeChH8
— Oren Dorell (@OrenDorell) March 30, 2018
Dorell provided the full statement, which notes that the United States is “not requiring the Russian bilateral mission to reduce its total number of personnel.”
Here’s the full statement: pic.twitter.com/gdnNZti30s
— Oren Dorell (@OrenDorell) March 30, 2018
Business Insider also confirmed the reports with the State Department, noting “that the White House’s diplomatic expulsion will not require Russia to reduce its staffing levels in the US, and vice versa.”
“In other words,” the outlet continued, “the 60 diplomats who were kicked out — many of whom were undercover intelligence operatives— can be replaced by others.”
The confirmation follows NBC’s report that Trump has instructed his aides “not to talk publicly about Russia policy moves.” At the time, the White House declined to comment.
Photo via Twitter.
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