U.K., Russia: The Continuation of the Great Game

The Russian government is expected to respond July 17 to the United Kingdom's expulsion of four Russian diplomats — which itself was a reaction to Moscow's refusal to extradite the key suspect in the poisoning death of former Russian intelligence agent Alexander Litvinenko in London. Speculation is running rampant over what the next moves will be and whether the poisoning of a former agent will lead to a break in business between Russia and the United Kingdom. However, while each country is maintaining its pride and acting against the other, neither will allow the situation to degrade into anything beyond typical Cold War games.