US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken is not ready to decide on the recognition of Russia by the Sponsor of Terrorism, despite the demand of Congress, writes The New York Times.
The publication claims that the head of the State Department fears that this will lead to negative consequences. In particular, then you will have to impose sanctions against some US allies who maintain business relations with Russia, and this will also complicate diplomatic ties with the Russian Federation, which are already at the minimum level.
“The price that we and other countries forced to pay Russia is equal to the one that would follow as a result of Russia’s recognition by the sponsor of terrorism. That is, the practical consequences of what we are already doing is the same,” said Anthony Blinken The words of which are given by BBC.
This week, the American Senate unanimously adopted a resolution calling for the State Department to recognize Russia with a sponsor of terrorism. Formally, the resolution of the Senate is a recommendation. The right to make decisions on this issue belongs to the Secretary of State. However, on the eve of the House of Representatives, a bill was introduced, which, if adopted, will oblige the Biden administration to recognize Russia with a sponsor of terrorism. According to observers, representatives of both parties support the requirement to recognize Russia as an accomplice of terrorism, but so far it has come to opposition from the administration. Last week, the speaker of the House of Representatives of Nancy Pelosi warned the Secretary of State Blinken that if he did not declare Russia a sponsor of terrorism, this will be done by Congress. At the moment, there are four countries in the list of sponsors of terrorism: North Korea, Syria, Cuba and Iran.
This decision will entail the introduction of new sanctions both against the Kremlin and against countries that continue to conduct business with Russia. It will also allow citizens to file claims against the Russian government in American courts and receive compensation at the expense of the arrested Russian state assets.