U.S. Takes Aim at Russian Influence: Blinken Calls for Treating RT Like Covert Ops

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged countries to treat RT activities like covert intelligence operations. This follows new sanctions targeting alleged Russian overseas influence campaigns, including hiring an American firm to sway the 2024 U.S. election. The U.S. implicates RT in global efforts to undermine democracies.

Countries should treat the activities of Russian state broadcaster RT as covert intelligence operations, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Friday. The statement came as he unveiled new sanctions against alleged Russian overseas influence campaigns, including charges against RT employees.

Blinken highlighted that Russian media entities, particularly RT, are functioning as arms of Russia's intelligence apparatus. He cited new information alleging that RT engages in cyber capabilities, covert information, and influence operations internationally, acting to undermine democracies.

The sanctions also target RT's Editor-in-Chief Margarita Simonyan, and come amid deteriorating U.S.-Russian relations exacerbated by the war in Ukraine. Blinken emphasized that the Biden administration, along with allies like the UK and Canada, would pursue diplomatic efforts to counter Russian influence worldwide.

(With inputs from agencies.)