US gov. to work around labeling Russia a state sponsor of terrorism

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
4 Dec 2022 22:08

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says that the government is trying to avoid financial consequences.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks at the J Street National Conference at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022 (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that Biden's administration is working with Congress to examine routes to increase pressure on Moscow without labeling Russia as a "state sponsor of terrorism" to avoid "monetary consequences".

The top diplomat told BBC, "we are constantly looking at different measures that we can take to, as necessary, increase the pressure. We are working with Congress right now on legislation that would help us get around some of the challenges of using the 'state sponsor of terrorism' designation, which as you [anchor] said has some monetary consequences. We are working with Congress on the way forward to get to the same place."

Earlier in November, the EU Parliament, in a symbolic move for the lack of legal framework, decided to declare Russia as a "state sponsor of terrorism," with 494 votes in favor, 58 against, and 44 abstentions, stating that Moscow carried out its operation, whereby it targeted Ukrainian civilian infrastructures, including power grids and hospitals, in violation of international law.

Last July, US senators, both Democratic and Republican, introduced legislation to designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism.

According to Reuters, this label has been pushed for by Ukraine, however, US President Joe Biden’s administration does not support such a designation, which was announced explicitly by the White House later in September.

Moscow has warned Washington that adding Russia to the State Sponsor of Terrorism list, which now includes Iran, North Korea, Cuba, and Syria, would jeopardize diplomatic relations.

John Kirby, the coordinator of the National Security Council Strategic Communications, said previously that giving Russia this label would only complicate the matter in Ukraine without contributing towards resolving the issues there and would complicate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the East European country.