A dispute is brewing between Congress and US President Joe Biden over whether to recognize as a terrorist organization the private Russian military company Wagner, which is fighting in Ukraine and is accused of horrific atrocities.
Source: The Hill
Details: The publication notes that while the Biden administration has imposed sanctions against the Wagner Group as a global criminal organization, lawmakers are pushing the State Department to go further, granting it the status of a foreign terrorist organization.
The split highlights long-term tensions, with Congress criticizing the Biden administration for slow support for Ukraine, while the administration says it is shielding itself from potential negative repercussions.
Proponents of designating Wagner as a “foreign terrorist organization” argue that this would mean a far greater loss for Wagner than its current status as a transnational criminal organization.
Listing the FTO would increase the US leverage needed to track down and stop Wagner, serve as a powerful deterrent to people or governments doing business with the group, and open up new avenues for lawsuits.
The National Security Council and the US State Department did not respond to The Hill’s questions regarding specific issues related to Wagner’s status as a terrorism-supporting group.
But an aide to the congressman, who wished to remain anonymous to discuss the sensitive topic, told the publication that the administration opposes the legislation because it fears it could interfere with U.S. efforts to convince African countries to end their ties to the Wagner group or their reliance on PMCs.
Expert analysis links the activities of the Wagner Group to countries such as Sudan, Libya, the Central African Republic, Mozambique, Mali, Burkina Faso, Cameroon and Chad. PMCs are often used as an additional force for the weak armed forces of these countries.
“(US Department of State – ed.) is concerned that if Wagner suddenly gets on the FTO list, then the governments of those countries where there are various officials dealing with them (“Wagner” – ed.) Will block their entry into United States and confiscate their assets for being in contact with the FTO. That is the core of their concern,” the aide said.
The White House, according to the material, would not mind if the law against PMC “Wagner” could operate only on the territory of Ukraine, but against its adoption because of interests in Africa.
Recall: Last November, it was reported that the administration of US President Joe Biden was considering declaring the private military company Wagner, associated with Kremlin oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin, a foreign terrorist organization.
