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Agence France-Presse

New Zealand said Tuesday it would like to expel Russian spies in retaliation for allegedly poisoning an ex-agent in Britain – only it can’t find any Moscow operatives.
Scores of Russian diplomats have been ordered from the United States, Canada, Australia and various European countries in the wake of the nerve agent attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury.
New Zealand, a former British colony and staunch London ally, offered in-principle support but admitted a lack of Russian spy activity meant there was little action it could take.
“We have done a check in New Zealand. We don’t have Russian undeclared intelligence officers here. If we did, we would expel them,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said.
“When there’s a range of international interests … does it surprise me New Zealand is not top of their list? No, actually.”
Ardern said New Zealand “will keep under review what further actions it can take to support the international community over the Salisbury attack”.
Russia has denied it was behind the attempted assassination, which left Skripal and his daughter gravely ill in perhaps the first nerve agent attack in Europe since the second world war.
New Zealand is a member of the “Five Eyes” intelligence-sharing network, which also includes the United States, Britain, Canada and Australia.


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Espionage

New Zealand can’t find any Russian spies to expel

New Zealand PM: ‘When there’s a range of international interests … does it surprise me New Zealand is not top of their list? No, actually’

Russian President Vladimir Putin. File photo: AFP

More than 130 Russian diplomats expelled from 20 countries, including US, as fallout from ex-spy poisoning continues

European Council President Donald Tusk said that 14 European Union countries will expel Russia diplomats as well

epa06617692 'Brothers of Italy' (Fratelli d'Italia) party's Ignazio La Russa (L-2) and Giorgia Meloni (C) arrive at Palazzo Grazioli for the meeting of the centre-right alliance, in Rome, Italy, 21 March 2018. The centre-right alliance that was one of the two winners of Italy's inconclusive general election met in Rome to assess the state of negotiations over parliamentary Speakers. The alliance got 37% of the vote to become the top coalition while the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S) became the top party with 32% of the vote. EPA-EFE/Massimo Percossi

(FILES) In this file photo taken on March 29, 2017 British Prime Minister Theresa May leaves 10 Downing Street before heading to the Houses of Parliament to attend the weekly Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) in central London. Britain is set to leave the EU on March 29, 2019, almost three years after the referendum vote for Brexit, having triggered the two-year Article 50 withdrawal process in 2017, and negotiations on the future partnership are meant to be wrapped up by October. / AFP PHOTO / Ben STANSALL

(180325) -- JERUSALEM, March 25, 2018 (Xinhua) -- German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas visits Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial and Museum located in Jerusalem, March 25, 2018. (Xinhua/JINI) (yk)

(FILES) In this file photo taken on November 11, 2017 US President Donald Trump (R) and Russian President Vladimir Putin talk as they make their way to take the "family photo" during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders' summit in the central Vietnamese city of Danang. The White House fumed on March 21, 2018, about an embarrassing leak of Trump's decision to congratulate Vladimir Putin on his re-election, with one official describing the disclosure as illegal. A hunt is underway to find the person who leaked Trump's prepared notes for the call, which included a warning "DO NOT CONGRATULATE," which he ignored. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / JORGE SILVA

In this file photo taken on April 07, 2010, Russia's then-Prime Minister Vladimir Putin speaks with Poland's then-Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Tusk, now the EU preisdent announced on Wednesday that 14 EU countries have expelled Russian diplomats. Several non-EU countries have done likewise. Photo: Ria Novosti via AFP

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New Zealand PM: ‘When there’s a range of international interests … does it surprise me New Zealand is not top of their list? No, actually’


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New Zealand can’t find any Russian spies to expel

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}New Zealand PM: ‘When there’s a range of international interests … does it surprise me New Zealand is not top of their list? No, actually’

New Zealand PM: ‘When there’s a range of international interests … does it surprise me New Zealand is not top of their list? No, actually’