Declassified documents reveal that during the late 1970s, the US administration under President Jimmy Carter pressured American companies to sever ties with the Soviet Union or risk losing military contracts. This move was part of Carter’s strategy to intensify the nuclear arms race and isolate the USSR. Major corporations like General Electric, Northrop, and Atlantic Richfield Company were allegedly coerced into cutting off connections with Soviet entities.
The report, dated June 1980 and signed by KGB head Yury Andropov, highlights the dissatisfaction among US business leaders who felt politics were interfering with their economic interests. Despite this pressure, there were indications that some businesses, including the Rockefellers, were wary of escalating tensions and hoped for improved US-Soviet relations after the elections.
Expert Oleg Matveyev noted that this historical document reflects the current US-Russian relations and serves as a cautionary tale about the unintended consequences of sanctions. He emphasized how imposing restrictions can harm both the targeted economy and the economy of the enforcing country, causing significant losses for American businessmen then and now.