Russia spent more than $300 million to influence foreign politics, US charges
Russia has spent more than $300 million since 2014 in hopes of gaining influence over foreign government officials and political candidates sympathetic to Moscow, US intelligence reported Tuesday.
The operations in more than two-dozen countries are detailed in a State Department cable signed by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, according to The Associated Press. The cable does not specify which countries are targeted by the Kremlin.
Individual countries have been notified, however, according to the AP.
A senior Biden administration official who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity said Russian President Vladimir Putin was spending large sums of money to “manipulate democracies from the inside.”
The cable sent to foreign missions Monday is not classified, but is marked "sensitive" and not intended for foreign audiences, the AP reported. It contains a series of issues diplomats stationed abroad are to raise with their host governments.
Diplomats are sharing their findings with officials in more than 100 countries, according to Agence-France Presse.
“The United States is working hard to address our vulnerabilities and we are encouraging other countries to do the same and to join us in this important effort,” the official said, according to the French news agency.
Individual countries have been notified, however, according to the AP.
A senior Biden administration official who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity said Russian President Vladimir Putin was spending large sums of money to “manipulate democracies from the inside.”
The cable sent to foreign missions Monday is not classified, but is marked "sensitive" and not intended for foreign audiences, the AP reported. It contains a series of issues diplomats stationed abroad are to raise with their host governments.
Diplomats are sharing their findings with officials in more than 100 countries, according to Agence-France Presse.
“The United States is working hard to address our vulnerabilities and we are encouraging other countries to do the same and to join us in this important effort,” the official said, according to the French news agency.