Russian "Su-57" fighter ‹ › Robert Palladino, Senior Bureau Official for the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs (NEA), has warned that Washington could impose sanctions on Algeria over its purchase of Russian fighter jets. Speaking before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Palladino responded to a question on the possibility of sanctions linked to Algeria's acquisition of Russian-made aircraft, saying, «we also have seen those media reports, and they're concerning». He added that the State Department remains committed to enforcing the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), noting that «transactions like those that you have described may trigger that determination», implying sanctions. «This is something that we will watch closely», he said. Palladino also indicated that a more detailed discussion on the issue could take place with senators behind closed doors. Asked about steps taken by the U.S. administration to discourage Algeria from purchasing Russian military equipment, he said, «We work closely with the government in Algeria on issues where we find common ground. We certainly don't agree on many things, and this would be an example where the United States would have a problem». «We use the leverage that we have, often in private, to advance our interests and stop behavior which is not acceptable», he added. In February 2025, Algeria announced it would receive Russia's fifth-generation Su-57 fighter jets, becoming the first foreign country to acquire the advanced aircraft. At the time, Algerian authorities also said that pilots were undergoing training in Russia to operate the jets.
