Consular Calculations: A Diplomatic Escalation in Stages Russia's announcement to close Germany's consulate in St. Petersburg by September 18 is the latest move in a tit for tat escalation between the two countries.
The decision follows Berlin's closure of the Russian consulate in Bonn and its cultural center in Berlin, which Russia has deemed an unacceptable provocation.
This development highlights the complexities of modern diplomacy, where consular relations can be as much about politics as they are about practical cooperation.