U.S. Expels Russian Diplomats Over Salisbury Incident

The expulsion of Russian diplomats by the United States was a direct response to the Salisbury poisoning incident, which involved the use of a nerve agent against former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the UK. This incident raised significant concerns regarding the use of chemical weapons and the implications for international security. Following a recommendation from the United States National Security Council, the U.S. government took decisive action to show solidarity with the United Kingdom, which had attributed the attack to the Russian state. President Donald Trump ordered the expulsion of sixty Russian diplomats and the closure of the Russian consulate in Seattle, marking one of the largest diplomatic expulsions in recent history. This move was part of a coordinated effort, as a total of 140 Russian diplomats were expelled by 25 countries in a show of unity against Russia's actions.