Politics podcast: John Blaxland on Australia's expulsion of Russian spies

Ambassador of the Russian Federation Grigory Logvinov speaks during a press conference at the Russian Embassy in Canberra. Lukas Coch/AAP

As Russian Ambassador Grigory Logvinov and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop trade verbal blows, ANU professor John Blaxland says the expulsion of two Russian spies from Australia will have a significant effect on Russia’s espionage here.

Blaxland told The Conversation that ideologically we’re not seeing a new Cold War but the interconnectedness of the world means that activities by Russia create new vulnerabilities. “In some ways the threat is as great, if not greater.”

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