Trump executive order targets nations that detain U.S. citizens

"President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday targeting nations that wrongfully detain Americans as a ploy for gaining leverage over the U.S. government. Under the new measures, modeled on designations for state sponsors of terrorism, Secretary of State Marco Rubio would be given authority to impose penalties, export controls and travel restrictions on governments and individuals in countries that hold U.S. citizens without justification, officials said."

"Trump and other administration officials sharply criticized the Biden administration during the Oval Office event, stating without evidence that more U.S. nationals had been wrongfully detained than freed under the previous president. "If they respect you and they respect your country, they release. And if they don't, then you have to pay $6 billion," Trump said, apparently referring to an agreement made with Iran in 2023 that involved the release of frozen Iranian oil funds."

"A senior administration official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to brief the news media earlier ahead of the White House announcement, said China, Iran and Afghanistan would be reviewed as the new policy takes effect. The official would not say whether Russia also would be considered. "We are going to cripple their economic systems," the official said, adding that the aim is to prevent wrongful detentions altogether."

An executive order targets nations that wrongfully detain Americans as leverage against the U.S. government. The measures use a framework similar to state-sponsor-of-terrorism designations and would empower Secretary of State Marco Rubio to impose penalties, export controls and travel restrictions on governments and individuals who hold U.S. citizens without justification. The administration asserted, without evidence, that more U.S. nationals were wrongfully detained than freed under the previous presidency. China, Iran and Afghanistan will be reviewed as the policy takes effect, with Russia not confirmed. The order contemplates crippling economic measures and possible travel restrictions for U.S. passport holders visiting listed countries; the State Department does not publicize detainee counts.

Read at The Washington Post