Russian Embassy: UK Security 'Fusion Doctrine' Contradicts Interests of Citizens

On Tuesday, UK National Security Adviser Mark Sedwill told parliament that the UK response to the Salisbury incident was an example of the new "fusion doctrine" in practice which stipulates the deployment of the full set of national security, economic and influence capabilities in pursuit of national security goals.

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Sedwill clarified that, unlike with the Litvinenko case, London had preferred to act much faster and rely on an intelligence assessment, rather than waiting for the investigation results, with the prime minister swiftly enacting a whole range of national measures. At the same time, Sedwill admitted that the Metropolitan Police was yet to find suspects in the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia despite the conflicting media reports.

"If this is the essence of ‘Fusion Doctrine,’ then we are convinced that such a doctrine contradicts the true interests of the people of the UK. Instead of strengthening national security, it poses a risk of hasty, ill-conceived decisions, [which are] made at the expense of UK relations with international partners, and undermines the country’s reputation. It also concerns the essence of the ‘response to Russia’s behavior,’ which London has opted for, — expulsions of diplomats (with an inevitable mirror-like expulsion of UK diplomatic staff), those very people who are tasked with improving relations," the embassy's spokesperson said.

According to the embassy, London needs the exact opposite approaches at a time when it is set to leave the European Union.

The diplomat reiterated that the Russian side had still no information on the health conditions of Sergei and Julia Skripal.

"The situation around the murder of Russian national Nikolai Glushkov is not much better. We demand once again that the UK government ensures the implementation of international commitments and generally accepts international norms and urgently provides the Russian side and the international community with clear evidence that Sergei and Julia Skripal are not forcible detained [by the UK side]," the spokesperson added.

On March 4, Skripal and his daughter were found unconscious on a bench near a shopping mall in Salisbury. The UK authorities have blamed Russia for attempting to assassinate the Skripals with what is believed by London to be the A234 nerve agent. Russia has denied having any role in the poisoning and demanded access to investigation and credible information on the Skripals' health conditions.