Ten days after the nerve gas attack against a former Russian spy and his daughter in Salisbury, the UK government has put the blame squarely on Russia.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, the Prime Minister Theresa May announced to the House of Commons her government\u2019s response<\/a> to the poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal.<\/p>\n As well as the expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats, the largest for more than 30 \u00a0years, the UK government is enacting new laws to prevent \u201chostile state activity\u201d,\u00a0 new moves against Russian assets and a Magnistsky<\/a>-style measures against those involved in human rights abuses.<\/p>\n London is the foreign capital of choice for the post -Soviet oligarchs and directors of state-run Russian companies.<\/p>\n Taking on the super-rich Russians close to President Putin would hurt Russia where it is vulnerable.<\/p>\n There was broad unity in condemnation of Russia from other political parties in the House of Commons; more than one member called Russia a “rogue” state.<\/p>\n Country is outraged, and Mrs. May has the backing of the wider political establishment. But,\u00a0the stand-off with Moscow threatening to turn into the worst diplomatic crisis to hit bilateral relations, Britain still needs international support from its allies.<\/p>\n By emphasising the \u201cwell-established pattern of Russian aggression\u201d, including incursions on Georgian sovereignty and a cyber-attack on the German parliament, the UK is sending the message that no country is immune from \u201cflagrant breach of Russia\u2019s international obligations\u201d.<\/p>\n Talking about the vulnerabilities, gathering the widest possible international alliance against Russia is where Britain faces its biggest test.<\/p>\n Despite tension over Brexit, Britain received clear messages of solidarity from France and Germany.<\/p>\n The European Council president, Donald Tusk announced that EU leaders will discuss the issue at their summit next week.<\/p>\n NATO, too, expressed \u201cdeep concern\u201d and said that the poisoning represented the first offensive use of a nerve agent on a member of the alliance since its founding in 1949.<\/p>\n So far, the NATO member Turkey has remained conspicuously silent on the issue.<\/p>\n British Ambassador to Turkey, Dominick Chilcott, went to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ask<\/a> the Turkish government to show solidarity in their dispute with Russia.<\/p>\n \u201cRussian aggression is not only a threat to the U.K. but to all countries,\u201d Chilcott said.<\/p>\n Turkey and the UK have well\u2013established relations, a strong trade, security and defence co-operation. Both NATO members, the UK and Turkish governments describe<\/a> their relationship as \u201cstrategic\u201d.<\/p>\n By offering rapid and strong support to the Turkish government after the coup attempt of 15 July 2016, Britain is said to have \u201cdistinguished itself as a friend in the eyes of the Turkish government\u201d.<\/p>\n Turkey may yet come up with a friendly statement, in response to the UK\u2019s request \u201cto say anything in public or to support action condemning it in NATO or in any other international forum such as at the UN\u201d;\u00a0 there has been no sign of it so far.<\/p>\n On the contrary, in statements<\/a> by the Foreign Minister on Wednesday, the Turkish focus has firmly been on the strength of the relationship between Russia and Turkey.<\/p>\n