Russia will find it harder to tackle US-EU coalition

Significance

Billed by US and UK officials as the largest-ever mass expulsion of Russian diplomatic personnel, this is an unexpected show of common will. The United States alone is expelling 60 Russian diplomats, as Moscow finds itself having to condemn a broad swathe of countries, not just the United Kingdom.

Impacts

• Western governments will beef up defences against possible asymmetric cyberattacks.
• The appointment of a hawkish US national security advisor and secretary of state may harden Trump's stand on Russia.
• President Vladimir Putin will return to the 'Russia besieged' narrative of 2014.