Russia Suspends Its Mission at NATO in Response to Expulsion of Diplomats

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov holds a joint press conference with his Iranian counterpart following their meeting in Moscow on Oct. 6, 2021. Kirill KudryavtsevI/POOL via Getty Images

Russia said it will suspend its permanent mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on Monday in retaliation to the Western military alliance’s expulsion of eight Russian diplomats.

Sergei Lavrov, the country’s foreign minister, said at a news conference that the suspension of the Russian Permanent Mission to NATO could come into effect as early as next month and is a result of “NATO’s actions.”