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Lavrov: Britain Should No Longer Be Called 'Great' Britain

Published January 20, 2026, 14:20
Lavrov: Britain Should No Longer Be Called 'Great' Britain

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that Britain should no longer be called 'Great' Britain as it is the only country that officially uses this designation. The statement was made in the context of a discussion about colonialism and the US efforts to reshape relations with Russia. Lavrov mentioned that 'Great' Britain is a unique example of a country that calls itself 'great,' and referred to the 'Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya' under Muammar Gaddafi as another example, which no longer exists. This statement comes at a time of tension between Russia and the West, with Britain being considered by the Russian side as its number one public enemy. On Russian state television, Britain is portrayed as a treacherous power undermining Russian interests. Britain, for its part, considers Russia a threat to Europe and accuses Russia of espionage campaigns. The relationship between the two countries is at its lowest point since the Cold War.