Tuesday, the administration of US President Joe Biden rejected proposals from legislators and Ukraine to declare Russia a “state supporter of terrorism,” saying that such a bold move would be detrimental.
After months of evasive responses from top officials, Biden responded categorically to a reporter’s question about whether he would add Russia to the list of countries that support terrorism on Monday.
When asked whether a decision had been reached on Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that “holding Russia responsible” via a terrorist designation was “not the most effective or strongest route forward.”
She said that the designation would make it more difficult to provide help to areas of the war-torn Ukraine or would bar relief organisations and businesses from taking part in an agreement mediated by the UN and Turkey to transport desperately needed grain from Ukraine’s blockaded ports.
“It would also undercut our unprecedented multilateral (coalition) that has been so effective to holding Putin accountable and could also undermine our ability to support Ukraine”
in negotiations, she told reporters.
A designation by the United States, the country with the greatest economy in the world, as a “state sponsor of terrorism” has far-reaching repercussions, with many corporations and banks afraid to take the chance of facing legal action from US authorities.
Following a string of incidents that left civilians dead, including a June attack on a shopping centre in Kremenchuk that left at least 18 dead, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged the West to legally designate Russia as a terrorist state.
In August, Latvia’s parliament branded Russia a “state supporter of terrorism,” claiming it was committing “genocide” against Ukrainians. However, French President Emmanuel Macron officially disclaimed the title in June.
Biden has been asked to declare Russia a state supporter of terrorism by US politicians from both parties, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who sees this as a means to increase pressure following months of economic penalties after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24.
Only four countries—Iran, Syria, North Korea, and Cuba—that are US adversaries and have economies that are far smaller than Russia’s are designated as state sponsors of terrorism.
In the latter days of former president Donald Trump’s administration, which adopted a tough stance against the communist-ruled island, Cuba was controversially reinstated to the list.
Upon assuming office, the Biden administration overturned Trump’s decision to designate Yemen’s Huthi rebels, who are supported by Iran, as a terrorist organisation, also out of concern about impeding supplies.