Questions as USA threatens Algeria with sanctions for buying Russian Su-57 fighter jets
By KEMI KASUMU with Agency reports
“It is the very key point that puts America up as cause of conflicts globally because its deliberate use of internal laws to rule over other sovereign nations thinking it can always resort to force or sanctions will always be resisted,” one of them said.
The United States has warned Algeria that it could face sanctions over its acquisition of Russian Su-57 stealth fighter jets, citing concerns over regional security and compliance with US sanctions law.
This has led to many in the Pan-African Movement Forum from Tanzania, Burkina Faso and The Gambia asking to know why USA thinks it can make laws that should ordinarily be of its country and it will let them bind on other countries especially in Africa.
“It is the very key point that puts America up as cause of conflicts globally because its deliberate use of internal laws to rule over other sovereign nations thinking it can always resort to force or sanctions will always be resisted,” one of them said.
During testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, Robert Palladino, head of the State Department’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, described Algeria’s deal with Russia as “problematic.”
He said the purchase raises serious concerns for U.S. strategic interests during the Biden–Trump presidential transition period.
Washington is considering invoking the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), a 2017 law that authorizes penalties against countries engaging in what the US deems “significant transactions” with Russia’s defense and intelligence sectors.
Algeria, ranked 27th globally and second in Africa behind Egypt in the 2026 Global Firepower Index, became the first foreign customer of the export variant Su-57E in February 2025.
The acquisition is part of a broader military modernization effort aimed at replacing aging aircraft and preserving strategic dominance in the Maghreb region.
The dispute highlights a growing tension between U.S. sanctions policy and the defense sovereignty of African states, as the Trump administration steps up pressure on regional partners to reduce long-standing military cooperation with Moscow.
Despite reported diplomatic warnings from Washington, sources indicate that at least two Su-57E jets have already been delivered to Algeria. Algerian pilots are reportedly undergoing advanced training in Russia to operate the aircraft.
