Republican lawmakers Michael McCaul and Jim Risch have urged President Joe Biden to prevent a French company, Electricité de France (EDF), from working on civil nuclear power projects with Russia’s Rosatom, arguing that doing so would help fund Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine. The lawmakers warned that waiving sanctions on Russia would enable EDF to engage in nuclear power projects with Rosatom, providing more money for Putin to use in his aggression against Ukraine. They emphasized the importance of rejecting this proposal to prevent further funding of Putin’s actions.
The sanctions on Russia, issued by Biden in 2021 and later amended, aim to address national security threats posed by foreign activities of the Russian Federation. McCaul and Risch highlighted the potential implications of exempting EDF from these sanctions, allowing the company to purchase a subsidiary of a U.S. company involved in nuclear power projects with Rosatom in Hungary, Turkey, and Egypt. These projects have been suspended for years due to sanctions, and the lawmakers expressed concern over perpetuating dependence on Russian energy, which poses a threat to transatlantic security.
In response to what they consider as a concerning proposal, the lawmakers sent a letter dated May 6 urging Biden to reject the waiver that would benefit EDF and Rosatom. They emphasized the need to make their concerns public in order to influence the administration’s decision regarding the potential exemption of EDF from U.S. sanctions. The lawmakers also pointed out that Biden recently signed an aid package providing nearly $61 billion in military assistance to Ukraine, as well as a ban on imports of Russian enriched uranium passed by Congress.
The lawmakers emphasized their belief that allowing EDF to engage in nuclear power projects with Rosatom would provide more financial resources to Putin, enabling him to continue his aggressive actions against Ukraine and suppress democracy. They urged the Biden administration to consider the consequences of such a waiver and avoid contributing to the funding of Putin’s war efforts. The letter from McCaul and Risch highlights the broader implications of decisions related to energy and national security, particularly in the context of ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the need to address Russian aggression.
The White House’s national security council did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the lawmakers’ letter and concerns regarding the potential waiver of sanctions on Russia. The call to prevent EDF from working on civil nuclear power projects with Rosatom reflects broader bipartisan concerns about the implications of such collaborations on national security and international relations. As discussions continue on how to address the situation in Ukraine and hold Russia accountable for its actions, the letter from McCaul and Risch adds to the ongoing dialogue on the role of energy partnerships in shaping geopolitical dynamics and security challenges.
