James Forsyth James Forsyth

Brown’s stand on Russia is a welcome correction

Tony Blair was one of many Western leaders duped by President Putin, writes James Forsyth, but the new British Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary must stand their ground

When a British citizen is killed on British soil and a foreign government refuses to hand over the suspected killer for trial, then the British government must act. It was imperative that David Miliband demonstrated to the Russian government that their failure to extradite Andrei Lugovoi, the suspected killer of Alexander Litvinenko, would have consequences. If Miliband had confined himself to the usual diplomatic mutterings, as his critics think he should, he would have been effectively declaring open season on British citizens; inviting KGB alumni to knock off any turbulent priests who’ve settled in London.

Litvinenko’s murder late last year was designed to send the message that critics of the Russian security state were not safe anywhere. It was vital that an equally clear message was sent that London will not be turned into a venue for the settling of these scores, especially as there appear to have been assissination attempts in London on Kremlin critics as recently as last month. The expulsion of four Russian diplomats begins to do just that.

The Putin government will undoubtedly escalate this crisis — within days it had threatened to kick out 80 British diplomats and end security co-operation — convinced that bully-boy tactics will prevail. The new Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary must hold their nerve. Over the last few years, Russia has feasted on Western weakness and division. For Britain to back down now would be to encourage Russia to push the boundaries of acceptable conduct still further.

One of the most serious mistakes that George W. Bush and Tony Blair made was their belief that Vladimir Putin was a man they could do business with. Both came to regret the decision.

Blair met the Russian president five times during Putin’s first year in office, and travelled to Russia shortly before the 2000 elections effectively to endorse him.

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