Global Geopolitical Series: Russia counters Trump saying ‘smart’ missiles to destroy chemical attack evidence

Amid the ongoing geopolitical tensions over the latest chemical weapons attack in Syria, where President Trump said that he would respond to the provocation within days if not hours and French President Emmanuel Macron said that the United Kingdom, The United States, and France are preparing for a joint military response, President Trump has issued a direct threat at Russia or Russian military operation in Syria.

Trump tweeted, “Russia vows to shoot down any and all missiles fired at Syria. Get ready Russia, because they will be coming, nice and new and “smart!” You shouldn’t be partners with a Gas Killing Animal who kills his people and enjoys it!”

Russia has hit back at Trump’s tweeter threat accusing that ‘smart’ missiles will be aimed at destroying the chemical attack evidence. Moscow said if the weapons were smart those would have targeted terrorists. Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said in response to Trump's tweet, “Smart missiles should fly towards terrorists, not [Syria’s] lawful government, which has spent several years fighting against international terrorism on its territory…. Are the OPCW inspectors aware that smart missiles are about to destroy all evidence of the chemical weapons use on the ground? Or is that the actual plan – to cover up all evidence of this fabricated attack with smart missile strikes, so that international inspectors had no evidence to look for?”