With 20 European countries joining Britain, America and Australia in expelling Russian diplomats in protest to the alleged Russian poisoning of former double agent Sérgei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the UK earlier this month, Portugal has opted to sit it out on the fence.
It is not clear whether Portugal will follow the example set by 16 member states and 4 non-EU states, in which 50 diplomats have been given their marching orders.
MPs approached by Antena 1 (radio) have remained doggedly tight-lipped, either saying they will not be making statements full-stop, or will not make them “for the time being at least”.
President of the European Council Donald Tusk announced on Monday that 14 member states would be expelling diplomats over the course of the coming week.
Since then, two further member states have come on board, and Tusk has stressed that “additional measures, including further expulsions in the coming days and weeks” cannot be ruled out.
As of Tuesday, this is the list of European countries that have come out in support of the UK which has already expelled 23 Russian diplomats:
France – 4
Poland – 4
Germany – 4
Lithuania – 3
Czech Republic – 3
Denmark – 2
Italy – 2
Spain – 2
Netherlands – 2
Estonia – 1
Latvia – 1
Sweden – 1
Finland – 1
Romania – 1
Croatia – 1
Hungary – 1
Ukraine – 13
Albania – 2
Norway – 1
Macedonia – 1
Total: 50
Other countries taking part in the purge include:
US – 60
Canada – 4
Australia – 2
natasha.donn@algarveresident.com
