Rabat – Twenty-seven members of the US Congress called for “immediate” action to sanction the Algerian government for its involvement in the purchase of Russian arms.
In a bipartisan letter addressed to US Secretary Antony Blinken on Thursday, congresspeople from both sides of the aisle recalled Algeria’s extravagant purchase of Russian arms, which totaled $7 billion last year alone.
Last year’s arms purchase deal from Russia included the acquisition of advanced Russian fighters, which Russia previously refused to sell to any other nation until now.
“This military transfer has made Algeria the 3rd largest recipient of Russian arms in the world,” the letter stressed.
The letter, signed by 27 Democrats and Republicans, urges the US to use the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) to sanction Algeria’s alarming purchase of Russian arms.
In the US’ highly divided political scene, the letter proved to have uniquely bipartisan support, as congresspeople from both sides of the aisle signed on to call for sanctions on Algeria. While US politicians seem to agree on little besides pentagon funding, the letter showed that it is possible to collaborate on important issues.
CAATSA
CAATSA stipulates that the US can impose unilateral sanctions on individuals who are engaged 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.”
Algeria’s involvement in the purchase of Russian arms would “clearly be categorized as a significant transaction,” under the act, the House of Representatives argued, questioning the absence of any sanctions being considered by the State Department.
The letter warned that “desperate” Russia will continue to push for additional arms deals amid the Ukraine conflict, urging immediate action to sanction “those in the Algerian government” who are involved in the purchase of Russian arms.
The congresspeople concluded their statement by highlighting the importance for the US to send a “clear message” that support for Putin and his regime’s “barbaric” acts will not be “tolerated.”
Some of the senators who signed the letter to Blinken include Daniel Webster, Tim Ryan, Steve Cohen, Mario Diaz Baart, Chris Stewart, and Austin Scott.
The letter followed a similar request in mid-September from US Senator Marco Rubio, vice chairman of the Select Committee on Intelligence, who called for sanctions against Algeria for purchasing Russian weapons.
The senator also cited the CAATSA act, stating that Algeria’s arms deals are in violation of its criteria for sanctions.
Large purchases amid economic crisis
Algeria’s arms purchasing deals from Russia come amid a socioeconomic crisis the country has been suffering from over the past several years.
Earlier this year, reports shed light on Algeria’s worsening food shortages, urging the country to ban food exports.
A recent report from the Fraser Institute put Algeria in 157th position out of 165 listed countries on economic freedom in the country in its Economic Freedom of the World ranking.
The report shows low scores for Algeria in terms of import and export compliance costs, and regulatory trade barriers, among others.
The report put Algeria among the “ten lowest-rated countries,” along with Congo, Sudan, Iran, Libya, Syria, Argentina, Sudan, and Venezuela.
