Rubio Calls For Sanctions On Algerian Purchase Of Russian Weapons

Washington, Sep 19 (TNA) U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Vice Chairman Marco Rubio has sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken calling for appropriate designation of parties whose significant purchase of Russian materiel enable Russia’s destabilizing actions.

The People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria is one of the top global purchasers of military equipment from the Russian Federation. The Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (P.L.115-44) authorizes sanctions designations against any party that “the President determines knowingly . . . engages in a significant transaction with a person that is part of, or operates for or on behalf of, the defense or intelligence sectors of the Government of the Russian Federation.”

“Russia is Algeria’s largest military supplier. Algeria is also among the top four purchasers of Russian arms worldwide, culminating with a $7 billion arms deal in 2021. Influx of money from any source to Russia will only further enable Russia’s war machine in Ukraine. Yet, sanctions available to you have not yet been utilized,” the letter stated.

“I encourage you to take the threat Russia continues to pose to global stability seriously and to appropriately designate parties whose significant purchase of Russian material enable Russia’s destabilizing actions,” Rubio writes further.