US rejects labeling Russia a ‘state sponsor of terrorism’

You are United State This Tuesday (6) argued that it would be pointless to describe Russia as a “state sponsor of terrorism”, rejecting requests to this effect made by Ukraine and members of the US Congress.

Asked about the topic last Monday (5) by a reporter, President Joe Biden answered simply “No,” after months of dodgy answers from senior officials.

White House press secretary Karen-Jean-Pierre said on Tuesday that using the term terrorism “is not the most effective way to hold Russia accountable” for the acts committed.

The spokeswoman noted that such a designation could impede the delivery of aid to war-torn areas of Ukraine or prevent aid groups and companies from participating in a UN-negotiated agreement with Turkey to export grain from banned Ukrainian ports.

“It would also undermine our unprecedented multilateral alliance, which has been very effective in holding Putin to account, and could also affect our ability to support Ukraine” in the negotiations, Jean-Pierre added.

Calling the United States, the world’s largest economy a “sponsor of terrorism,” has broad implications, as many companies and banks are unwilling to risk legal action by US attorneys general.

Last month, the Latvian parliament declared Russia a “state sponsor of terrorism” for perpetrating “genocide” against Ukrainians. French President Emmanuel Macron explicitly ignored the designation in June.

Members of Congress from all parties in the United States have urged Biden to designate Russia as a sponsor of terrorism in order to increase pressure after months of economic sanctions by the United States. Invasion of Ukraine.

The United States has designated four state sponsors of terrorism: Iran, Syria, North Korea, and Cuba.