On Saturday, the House of Representatives of the United States, controlled by the Republicans, approved the bill on the possibility of confiscation of assets of the Russian Federation in favor of Ukraine and expanding sanctions against Russia.
The bill was adopted with three other laws on foreign aid, including Ukraine.
An unusual package of total $ 95 billion is divided into four separate laws, which contain both the help itself and the prohibition on the social network Tiktok, which is suspected of Washington, is under the influence of China, the imposition of sanctions against Iran and Russia.
"This is not the ideal law, it is not the law we would have written if the Republicans have governed both the House of Representatives, the Senate and the White House," said the Speaker of the House of Republican Republican Mike Johnson on the eve of the vote. "But it is the best option we can get in the proposed circumstances."
Now we tell you what other decisions the House of Representatives made. All this should still be approved by the Senate (expected to happen in the next week) and then sign President Joe Biden.
The confiscation of assets of the Russian Federation in favor of Ukraine
The main purpose of the sanctions bill is "Powerful Measures and Policy for Combating Iran, China and Russia."
360 congressmen voted for the project, 58 were opposed.
The part concerning Ukraine provides for the possibility of confiscation in favor of Ukraine's sovereign assets and expansion of anti -Russian sanctions.
In particular, the President of the United States is entitled to apply the procedure for confiscation of sovereign assets, with the subsequent transfer of appropriate funds to special funds - Compensation Fund, Ukraine Support Fund.
At the same time, the President may coordinate the algorithm for the transfer of Russian assets confiscated with the States of Seven, the EU, Australia and other US partners.
Photo author, PA-Efe/Rex/Shutterstock signature to photo, after adopting a help package to Ukraine Dmitry Peskov stated that he would only be worse from Kiev
Measures against Russia including:
- The introduction of additional sanctions against Russian oligarchs.
- The introduction of sanctions against the transfer of Iranian and Chinese technologies in the field of UAVs that can be used in the war with Ukraine.
- Approval of the law on the transfer of frozen Russian assets to Ukraine.
In general, the cost of Russian assets abroad is estimated at $ 300 billion. Of these, only 6 billion is actually in the United States. Most of these funds are in France, Germany and Belgium.
Photo author, EPA-Efe/Rex/ Shutterstock signat
The bill also includes sanction measures against Iran :
- The introduction of sanctions against ports, ships and refineries that trade Iranian oil to prevent Tehran from receiving tens of billions of dollars a year from oil export to China.
- Sanctions against anyone who participates in the purchase, sale or production of Iranian missiles and drones.
- To demand from the executive the full implementation of sanctions on senior officials of Iran.
- Sanctions on everyone who supports Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other Palestinian terrorist groups.
- Not to give Iran access to US technologies for the production of rockets and drones.
Photo author, Reuters Signature to Photo, Military Delegation at the Opening of the People's Political Advisory Council of China, March, 2024
Legislative measures against China :
- Force to sell TikTok (under threat of ban on US apps).
- Protect the personal data of American citizens from China.
- Impose additional sanctions.
Israel: $ 26.4 billion
The general purpose of assistance is "to help Israel to defend against Iran and his proxies, as well as to reimburse the US -spent funds for military operations in response to recent events." The latter refers to Iran's attack on Israel and the involvement of the United States in the destruction of missiles and UAVs.
Of this amount, 14 billion will go to Israel, and 9 billion for humanitarian aid in the region.
Israel should use the received funds to replenish the ammunition for the missile defense systems "Iron Dome" and "David Snevo", as well as for new weapons, which, according to its authorities, may be needed both in the near future and in the long run.
First of all, it is about missiles for air defense systems that Israel used to intercepts missiles that have been settled by Hamas group militants from the Gaza sector over the past half of a year.
However, now these launches have virtually nullified, as the tile controls almost the entire territory of the Gaza sector, but Israel says he needs to replenish the stocks to be prepared for future attacks, including the interception of missiles, which launches the Proiran group of Hezbol.
Photo author, Reuters Signature to Photo, Israeli Iron Dome Air Defense System intercepts missiles released from the Gaza Sector
An interesting point is that the law separately prescribes a ban on the financing of the United Nations Agency to assist Palestinian refugees (Bapor).
Israel stated that his staff participated in Hamas attack on October 7, the agency's management noted that, having received evidence, it took immediate measures, but Biden administration still decided to stop financing the balum.
366 members of the House of Representatives voted in favor of this bill, 58 were opposed.
Indo-Pacific region: US $ 8.12 billion
Photo author, Reuters Signature for Photos, Taiwan Air Force Helicopters during annual exercises. The same training is conducted annually and China
The general purpose of assistance: "Continue efforts to counteract communist China and ensure its restraint in the region."
About half of this amount is allocated for Taiwan's foreign military funding and assistance in strengthening defense. The latter stands out both Taiwan and other US partners in the region.
According to the "Taiwan Law Law", Washington is legally obliged to give the island weapons for self -defense. Taiwan annually receives a millions of dollars from the United States.
Last year, Joe Biden signed Taiwan's loan for an amount exceeding US $ 80 million to buy US weapons.
China invariably expressed dissatisfaction with these actions of the United States, citing that Taiwan is part of China.
More than $ 3 billion is allocated for the development of infrastructure for submarines, including investments for the construction of dry docks.
Most likely (although it is not directly referred), this amount is allocated as part of Aukus Regional Security Partnership, which includes the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.
Photo author, Reuters Signature to Photo, China pursues aggressive policies in the South Chinese Sea. Open Day for the public on one of Chinese Navy ships
The statutory documents, in particular, state that the US and Britain will help Australia in the acquisition of nuclear submarines.
Officially, Aukus was not created to resist China, but most analysts believe that submarines are an important part of the strategy of containing the naval expansion of Beijing.
The bill was approved by 385 votes against 34, Democrats among those who voted more than Republicans.
Photo author, Reuters Signature to Photos, Joint Naval Training of China, Iran and Russia in the Gulf of Oman, March 2024
Why is the runner along with sanctions and assistance?
Many experts and journalists have repeatedly asked: how did it turn out that the bill on the forced sale of Tiktok was in a foreign aid package, which was finally approved by the House of Representatives?
The BBC correspondent in North America, Anthony Zurker, believes that they did this to "sweeten the pill" to the conservative congressmen who opposed Ukraine assistance but for the curbing of China.
At the same time, it is a way of pressure on the Senate, which for two months has not approved the law approved by the majority of the House of Representatives, which obliges the Chinese company by BYTEDANCE either to sell a chief or to leave the US market.
Including a joint assistance package against China, Congressmen ensured his passage through the Senate, as those senators who want to help Ukraine and Israel as soon as possible will be forced to swallow and ban on chips.
