The US administration is considering the possibility of introducing strict restrictions on entry into the country for citizens of ten countries, including Russia and Belarus, The New York Times reported, citing its sources. According to these data, the US State Department has developed proposals that imply a ban on visiting the country for most categories of travelers from these countries, with the exception of wealthy businessmen whose activities meet the interests of the American side. Thus, citizens planning trips on tourist or immigrant visas may be banned.

The specific reasons that prompted Washington to develop such measures are not disclosed in the article, but it is noted that the draft restrictions were prepared several weeks ago and have already been sent to the White House for further consideration. The publication's sources specify that changes may be made to the document at the approval stage, and the final decision will depend on the position of the administration of President Joe Biden. So far, official representatives of the State Department and the White House have refrained from commenting on this issue, which adds uncertainty to the assessment of the timing and scope of possible restrictions.

This step, if implemented, will be the latest in a tightening of US visa policy towards Russia and Belarus, relations with which remain extremely tense amid the conflict in Ukraine and the imposition of numerous sanctions. In recent years, Washington has already significantly reduced the issuance of visas to Russian and Belarusian citizens, and the work of American consulates in these countries has been effectively curtailed. For example, in Russia, consular services for Russians are limited to the bare minimum, and citizens are forced to apply for visas at US embassies in third countries, such as Poland or Kazakhstan. A similar situation has developed for citizens of Belarus, which has already caused numerous complaints about bureaucratic difficulties and delays.

According to open sources, the list of countries that may be subject to new restrictions, in addition to Russia and Belarus, presumably includes states that are in the zone of special attention of the American administration due to issues of national security, human rights or foreign policy orientation. Although the exact list of countries has not yet been made public, experts assume that it may include such states as China, Iran, Cuba, Venezuela and North Korea, which already face visa and sanctions barriers from the United States. Such measures, according to analysts, may be aimed at increasing pressure on countries that Washington considers its geopolitical opponents.