Lawmakers Ask Biden to Use Sanctions, Export Controls to Counter Russia-China Nuclear Cooperation
The U.S. needs to impose more sanctions and export controls to prevent nuclear collaboration between Russia’s Rosatom and China, which is helping to support Russia’s war in Ukraine and allowing China to acquire enough weapons grade plutonium to “fuel its strategic nuclear breakout,” Republican House leaders said this week. Although the lawmakers said they were “heartened” to see the new set of sanctions against Russia last month (see 2302240028), which included designations targeting three Rosatom subsidiaries, they called for more.
“These actions do not begin to scratch the surface as to what needs to be done,” Reps. Mike Rogers of Alabama, Michael McCaul of Texas and Michael Turner of Ohio -- the chairs of the Armed Services, Foreign Affairs and Intelligence committees, respectively -- said in a March 16 letter to National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. “Stronger action is required and it needs a whole-of-government approach. We ask that you use all the tools at your disposal, such as the full application of sanctions, export controls, and diplomacy, to stop Putin from using Rosatom to challenge U.S. interests across the globe.”
The Rosatom-China relationship is a “direct threat to U.S. security and more evidence that Russia and China are working in tandem against the United States,” the lawmakers said. They said Rosatom appears to be supplying China with nuclear reactors and highly enriched uranium, with deliveries expected to begin this year. This puts China in violation of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, they said. “Make no mistake, the [People’s Republic of China’s] and Russia’s actions constitute an acceleration of their on-going arms race.”
“Despite these malign activities, Rosatom’s position in the global market is only getting stronger,” the letter said. “The longer we wait to act, the more difficult it will be to address Rosatom’s nefarious and malign dealings.” The lawmakers asked for a briefing on the Biden administration’s Rosatom strategy by April 17. The White House didn’t comment.