Joe Biden has been repeating it now for weeks: if Russia invades Ukraine, it will have to impose unprecedented economic sanctions. The United States is also studying the response to a possible cut in Russian gas to Europe.
” We do not intend to deploy US or NATO forces in Ukraine “, Joe Biden told reporters accompanying him on Tuesday during a visit to a small business in Washington, shortly after the United States placed 8,500 soldiers on alert to strengthen the Western military alliance.
But the president wants to reassure the Eastern European members of the Atlantic Alliance. ” We have a sacred duty, according to article 5 of the treaty, towards our NATO allies. And if really Russia continued to amass forces and had to move, we would reinforce these troops “, he promised.
The American president, however, reiterated that Russia would be exposed to economic sanctions ” significant in the event of an attack, going as far as measures that could personally target its president Vladimir Putin. To a journalist who asked him if he could consider personally sanctioning the Russian president, Joe Biden replied “ Yes “, then ” I can design it “.
Gas: a plan B under study
” There will be no graduated response. We’ll start at the top of the sanctions ladder and stay there. “Warned a high-ranking US administration official. Financial sanctions, with the agreement of the Europeans, are envisaged. Joe Biden has already mentioned the ban on dollar transactions for Russian entities. But the White House is also considering export bans on certain technologies that Russia needs to develop whole sections of its industry, reports our correspondent, Guillaume Naudin.
In Washington, we also know that Russia could use the energy weapon, that is to say cut off the oil and gas tap on which many European countries and especially Germany depend. The White House believes that this would penalize Russia as much, which needs foreign currency. But just in case, the United States is studying with gas companies the possibility of compensating if ever the gas pipelines were to be cut.
Boat transport could be reinforced and it would come from all over the world. The White House thus announced the visit next Monday to Washington of the Emir of Qatar. In particular, it will be about ” ensure the stability of the international energy supply said US presidential spokeswoman Jen Psaki. The Gulf emirate has huge gas reserves and is the world’s largest exporter of liquefied natural gas.