John Healey, UK Secretary of State for Defence, declared on November 18 that the Yantar, a Russian surveillance vessel, has entered British waters several times in recent weeks. The British military deployed a Royal Navy frigate and RAF P‑8 aircraft to monitor its movements. When in proximity, the pilots were confronted with laser lights shot from the Russian ship—an unprecedented escalation.
The Yantar, a vessel designed to gather intelligence and map the positions of under‑sea cables, is currently operating off the coast of Scotland, bordering UK’s exclusive economic zone.
Once a more cooperative partnership, ties between the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and Moscow have deteriorated sharply, today resembling the tense standoff of the Cold War. NATO leaders view Russia as a direct security threat, but repeated warnings and condemnations from the Alliance have so far had little effect on the Kremlin.
So, how has a previously constructive relationship between NATO and Russia turned so fractious? Click through this gallery and find out more about why Russia fell out with NATO.