Speaking in Bristol on March 15, the British Defense Minister commented on what Russian might do in retaliation to the expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats from the UK. “Russia should go away and shut up. But the government will consider what it does. It would be wrong to prejudge it,” he said.
During his first keynote speech since becoming Secretary of State last year, Williamson has outlined the threats faced by the UK, modernization of the Defense Program, further investments in the armed forces, and the British response to the poisoning of the former Russian spy Sergei Skripal.
One of the questions posed to Williamson by a reporter in the audience was: “Russia has said it will expel British diplomats from Moscow. Will the UK retaliate?”