The United States considers the alleged Russian intelligence cyberattack on a global chemical weapons watchdog in the Netherlands part of Moscow's pattern of worldwide reckless behavior, US Defense Secretary James Mattis said at a press briefing in Brussels on Thursday.
WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 04th October, 2018) The United States considers the alleged Russian intelligence cyberattack on a global chemical weapons watchdog in the Netherlands part of Moscow's pattern of worldwide reckless behavior, US Defense Secretary James Mattis said at a press briefing in Brussels on Thursday.
"The GRU cyberattack which has been revealed on the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons is the latest in a worldwide pattern of reckless and irresponsible behavior from Moscow," Mattis said after a NATO defense ministers meeting in Brussels.
Earlier on Thursday, Dutch Defense Minister Ank Bijleveld said that four Russian citizens had been expelled from the Netherlands on April 13 on the suspicion of an attempted cyberattack on the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), noting that the suspects had diplomatic passports.
The defense secretary listed Russia's support for the Syrian government and the Skripal attack in the United Kingdom as part of the same pattern of "blatant disregard for human life and international law."
He added that the US stands "shoulder-to-shoulder" with the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and other NATO allies and "likeminded countries" in confronting Russia.
Western officials put forward accusations against "Russian hackers" on a regular basis. Russia has repeatedly refuted allegations of interfering in other countries' internal affairs and elections.
