The United States has warned it could impose sanctions on Algeria amid concerns that the North African country is acquiring new military equipment from Russia.
Robert Palladino, head of the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, raised Washington’s concerns during a hearing before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, according to reports cited by Militarnyi. He referred to information suggesting Algeria is continuing to procure advanced Russian military hardware.
Algeria, one of Africa’s top military spenders alongside Egypt, confirmed in 2025 that it had agreed to acquire the fifth-generation Sukhoi Su-57E stealth fighter jet to replace older aircraft in its air force. The deal, officially announced in February 2025, would make Algeria the first foreign customer of the Russian-made jet.
Palladino said the United States could respond under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), legislation designed to deter significant arms purchases from Russia. He noted that while Washington works closely with Algiers on issues where their interests align, there are “serious differences” on other matters, citing the fighter jet acquisition as a key point of concern.
He added that U.S. authorities are using diplomatic tools at their disposal “to protect our interests and put an end to what we consider unacceptable.”
In recent years, Algeria has significantly increased its defence budget, a move widely linked to instability in the Sahel, Libya and the Mediterranean region, as well as its ambition to strengthen regional influence. The buildup is also seen against the backdrop of Algeria’s perception of closer ties between the United States and Morocco.
Algeria’s armed forces operate one of the most advanced air forces on the continent, including Su-30MKA multirole fighters, MiG-29 aircraft, and sophisticated Russian-made air defence systems such as the S-300.
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