President Biden asserted that Vladimir Putin would “pay a price” for Russia’s alleged interference in the 2020 US election. In an interview, Biden stated he had directly addressed the issue with Putin during a phone call. He affirmed the United States would respond to the interference. The US intelligence community released a report concluding that Russia undertook a range of activities intended to harm Biden’s candidacy and boost Donald Trump’s chances.
The report detailed that Putin likely directed efforts to denigrate Biden, support Trump, undermine confidence in the electoral process, and exacerbate socio-political divisions within the United States. These efforts included spreading disinformation, promoting conspiracy theories, and amplifying divisive content on social media.
Russia has consistently denied interfering in US elections. When questioned about his conversation with Putin, Biden said the two leaders had a “long talk” and that he made it clear to Putin that the US would respond. The Biden administration is reportedly considering a range of actions, including sanctions and diplomatic measures. Relations between the US and Russia are already strained due to various issues, including cyberattacks, human rights concerns, and the conflict in Ukraine. This accusation of election interference will likely further deteriorate the relationship between the two countries. How the United States responds to the Russian intervention is expected to set the tone for future interactions.
