La Cámara de Representantes de los Estados Unidos (House.gov) contra las crecientes relaciones de Argelia con Rusia
El sitio web oficial de la Cámara de Representantes de los Estados Unidos (House.gov) publicó, el 29 de septiembre de 2022, el texto de la carta enviada por un grupo bipartidista de 27 miembros del Congreso de los Estados Unidos, encabezado por la congresista republicana, Lisa MCCLAIN, al Secretario de Estado estadounidense Antony BLINKEN, «advirtiendo, sin diluir, contra las crecientes relaciones de Argelia con Rusia, que constituyen una amenaza para todas las naciones del mundo». Abajo está la carta :
September 29, 2022
TheHonorableAntony Blinken
Secretary
United States Department of State
2201 C Street, NW Washington, DC 20520
DearSecretary Blinken,
Wewriteto you today tovoiceour concernsover therecent reports ofthe ever-growingties
between the RussianFederation and the People’sDemocraticRepublicofAlgeria.
As you know, Russiais Algeria’s largest military arms supplier. Last yearalone, Algeria
finalizedanarms purchasewith Russiathat totaled over $7 billion. In thisdeal, Algeriaagreed to purchaseadvanced Russian fighter aircraft1, includingSukhoi 57. Previously, Russiahad not agreed to sellthis particular aircraft to any other nation until now.This military transfer has
madeAlgeriathe3rdlargest recipient2of Russian arms in theworld.
In 2017, Congress passedthe Countering America’s Adversaries ThroughSanctions Act (CAATSA.)This legislationdirectsthe President of theUnited Statesto impose sanctions on individuals who knowingly, “engages in a significant transaction with a person that is part of, or operates for oron behalfof, thedefenseor intelligencesectors oftheGovernment ofthe Russian Federation.3”ThePresidenthas delegated sanctions authority to theSecretary ofState, in consultation with the Secretary of theTreasury. This recent Algeria-Russiaarms purchasewould clearly becategorizedas“asignificant transaction”under CAATSA. Yet, no sanctions available to you havebeencraftedby the State Department.
1Sierra,JoseAntonio.“SenatorMarco Rubio Calls forSanctions againstAlgeriaover RussianArms Purchases.”Atalayar, 17Sept.2022
2Mathisen,RubenBerge.“Arms Transfers:U.S.and Russia’sBiggestTrading Partners.”VisualCapitalist,9May 2022
322U.S.C. 9525- Imposition ofsanctionswith respectto personsengaging intransactions with the intelligenceordefensesectorsof the
Governmentof theRussianFederation
As thewar in Ukrainecontinues, Russiais in desperate need offunds to continueits war effort. Russia’s attemptto punish the EuropeanUnion’s involvement in the conflict by blocking sales of natural gas to European countries has left President Vladimir Putin with few income streams into Russian government coffers.It is likely Russiawillcontinueto push for additional arms sales.It is critical that President Biden and his administration prepareto sanction thosewho attemptto fundthe Russian government, and its war machine, through the purchaseof military equipment.
Therefore, werequest you begin to immediately implement significant sanctions on thosein the Algerian government who wereinvolved in thepurchaseof Russian arms.TheUnited States needs to send aclear messageto theworld that thesupport for Vladimir Putin, and his regime’s barbaricwarefforts willnot be tolerated.
Sincerely,
Lisa McClainMarcyKaptur
