Congress slams Algerian officials for helping purchase Russian arms

WASHINGTON – A bipartisan group of 27 members of Congress sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday to “voice concerns over the recent reports of the ever-growing ties between” Russian and Algeria.

The letter, led by Michigan Republican Rep. Lisa McClain, noted that Russia is Algeria’s largest military arms supplier.

“Last year alone, Algeria finalized an arms purchase with Russia that totaled over $7 billion,” the members wrote. “In this deal, Algeria agreed to purchase advanced Russian fighter aircraft, including the Sukhoi 57. Previously, Russia had not agreed to sell this particular aircraft to any other nation – until now.”

According to the letter, this military transfer has made Algeria the third largest recipient of Russian arms in the world. The members noted that there was legislation in place, the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), which allows the secretary of state to impose sanctions on individuals who knowingly engage in a significant transaction with a person that is part of, or operates for or on behalf of, the defense or intelligence sectors of Russia.

“This recent Algeria-Russia arms purchase would clearly be categorized as “a significant transaction” under CAATSA. Yet, no sanctions available to you have been crafted by the State Department,” the letter reads.

“As the war in Ukraine continues, Russia is in desperate need of funds to continue its war effort,” they continued. “Russia’s attempt to punish the European Union’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 that Moscow will continue to push for additional arms sales, the Congress members argued. “It is critical that President [Joe] Biden and his administration prepare to sanction those who attempt to fund the Russian government, and its war machine, through the purchase of military equipment.

“We request you begin to immediately implement significant sanctions on those in the Algerian government who were involved in the purchase of Russian arms,” they wrote.