More than a dozen senators, including the top Democrats and Republicans on two committees, are calling on President Joe Biden to expel 300 Russian diplomats if the Kremlin doesn’t issue more visas for Americans to represent the United States in Russia.
Leaders of the Senate Foreign Relations and Intelligence committees—Sens. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.)—along with 13 other senators, signed the letter.
In August, Russia banned the U.S. embassy in Moscow from contracting, retaining, or hiring third-country or Russian staff members, except for security guards. As a result, the mission was forced to fire 182 employees and more contractors, said the Department of State in a statement at the time.
“Russia must issue enough visas to approach parity between the number of American diplomats serving in Russia and the number of Russian diplomats serving in the United States,” said their letter, which was dated on Monday. They said that there is disproportionality in the two countries’ diplomatic representation.
“If such action is not taken, we urge you to begin expelling Russian diplomats, to bring the U.S. diplomatic presence to parity. We believe such a step would be reasonable and reciprocal,” the senators added, noting that as many as 300 Russian diplomats could be sent back to their home country.
The letter’s message would mark a sharp escalation in an ongoing dispute over embassy staffing amid tension between Washington and Moscow.
Others who signed the document include Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Angus King (I-Maine), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.).
“We ask that your national security team take immediate, concrete steps to provide U.S. Embassy Moscow with the staffing and support it needs by taking responsible, proportional, and immediate actions in response to the provocations undertaken by the Russian Government,” they wrote.
Earlier this year, the Biden administration expelled 10 Russian diplomats and imposed sanctions against several dozen individuals and companies due to alleged Russian interference in previous elections and hacking campaigns.
Department of State said late August that the United States will impose another round of sanctions after the Kremlin allegedly used the infamous “novichok” nerve agent to poison a dissident figure, which includes restrictions on the permanent imports of certain Russian firearms and ammunition.
