February 12, 2018

Beyond sanctions: On Russia policy, Congress should focus on new tools

By: Edoardo Saravalle

The Trump administration shocked observers by not imposing new Russia-related sanctions by a January 29 deadline. This decision came on the same day when CIA Director Mike Pompeo said Russia would interfere in the 2018 midterms and a Russian jet unsafely intercepted a U.S. plane in international airspace.

The attention to the sanctions milestone shows Washington's over-emphasis on sanctions in Russia policy. Sanctions are a start, but policymakers in Congress should focus their attention on creating new measures to counter Moscow.

Since its signing into law last summer, the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) has dictated the pace of the major U.S. announcements about Russia policy. To the satisfaction of many legislators, it has become the centerpiece of U.S. policy toward Russia.

Read the full article in The Hill. 

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