After years of relying on Roscomos to deliver its astronauts to space, Washington now plans sanctions on Russian space agency

As well as Roscosmos, the proposed sanctions would also target Rosatom, the federal nuclear energy agency, as one of 28 organizations in the aviation, rocket, space, nuclear, instrument and engine industries.

According to news agency RIA Novosti, which has seen the document, the suggested measures are also aimed at Chinese companies who work with Beijing’s military.

Out of all the proposed sanctions, measures against Roscosmos would clearly be the most significant, as the US space program has relied on Russian technology for quite some time. From 2011 until earlier this year, Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft was the only means for Americans to reach the International Space Station. The American Atlas V launch system also relies heavily on Russian space tech, with its first stage powered by a RD-180 engine.

In 2020, the White House has repeatedly increased sanctions against Russian enterprises, both public and private. In particular, Washington has focused on stopping the Russo-German Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which the US considers to be a threat to its ability to sell liquefied natural gas to the European market. Companies involved in pipe-laying and insuring the project have fallen under the measures.

On Tuesday, Washington imposed restrictions on three Russian companies due to alleged violations of US non-proliferation legislation in regards to Iran, North Korea and Syria. The measures against Aviazapchast, Elecon and Nilco Group were said by the Russian ambassador to the US, Anatoly Antonov, to be “discriminatory.”

“There is no doubt that the unilateral US measures are aimed at ‘undermining’ the economic potential of Russian companies,” Antonov said.

Like this story? Share it with a friend!

© 2020, paradox. All rights reserved.