US Threatens Algeria with Sanctions Over Historic Russian Su-57 Stealth Fighter Deal
On Tuesday, February 3, 2026, the United States State.
Department issued a stern warning that it may impose punitive sanctions on Algeria, Africa’s second-most powerful military, in response to its landmark acquisition of Russian Su-57 stealth fighter jets. Testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Robert Palladino, head of the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, characterized the deal as “problematic” and a significant concern for the Biden-Trump transition team’s regional security interests.
Washington is threatening to invoke the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), a 2017 law designed to penalize nations that engage in “significant transactions” with Russia’s defense sector.
Algeria, which is ranked 27th globally and second in Africa behind Egypt in the 2026 Global Firepower Index, became the first foreign customer for the Su-57E in February 2025 as part of a broader effort to modernize its aging air fleet and maintain strategic superiority in the Maghreb.
The escalating tension underscores a broader “sanctions-versus-sovereignty” confrontation as the Trump administration intensifies pressure on African partners to sever deep-seated defense ties with Moscow.
Despite private diplomatic warnings, reports indicate that the first two Su-57E aircraft have already been delivered to Algerian soil, with pilots currently undergoing advanced training in Russia to operate the platforms.