National

Russian news agency Interfax said that Russian authorities formally brought espionage charges against American citizen Paul Whelan on Thursday, per the New York Times.

The backdrop: Whelan, a former U.S. Marine, was arrested in Moscow last Friday and could face up to 20 years in prison if found guilty. Intelligence experts believe he may have been detained as retribution for the arrest of confessed Russian agent Maria Butina. Whelan pleaded not guilty to espionage charges, according to his lawyer. 

Go deeper: American detained in Russia visited by U.S. ambassador

Russia formally charges American Paul Whelan with espionage

He could face up to 20 years in prison if found guilty.

Vladimir Putin sitting in a chair in a suit and tie

Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo: Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images

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Russia

Russian news agency Interfax said that Russian authorities formally brought espionage charges against American citizen Paul Whelan on Thursday, per <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the New York Times" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/03/world/europe/us-spy-suspect-whelan-russia.html" data-vars-content-id="1102d41c-d321-40f3-8bc3-3d6daa945af3" data-vars-headline="Russia formally charges American Paul Whelan with espionage" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/03/world/europe/us-spy-suspect-whelan-russia.html" target="_blank">the New York Times</a>.The backdrop: Whelan, a former U.S. Marine, was arrested in Moscow <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="last Friday" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/russia-arrests-alleged-us-spy-in-moscow-548c40e8-d78b-4f51-b33c-bc7267aa56d1.html" data-vars-content-id="1102d41c-d321-40f3-8bc3-3d6daa945af3" data-vars-headline="Russia formally charges American Paul Whelan with espionage" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/russia-arrests-alleged-us-spy-in-moscow-548c40e8-d78b-4f51-b33c-bc7267aa56d1.html" target="_self">last Friday</a> and could face up to 20 years in prison if found guilty. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Intelligence experts" data-vars-click-url="https://www.thedailybeast.com/russias-arrest-of-paul-whelan-is-payback-for-marina-butina-cia-veterans-say" data-vars-content-id="1102d41c-d321-40f3-8bc3-3d6daa945af3" data-vars-headline="Russia formally charges American Paul Whelan with espionage" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/russias-arrest-of-paul-whelan-is-payback-for-marina-butina-cia-veterans-say" target="_blank">Intelligence experts</a> believe he may have been detained as retribution for the arrest of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="confessed Russian agent" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/maria-butina-guilty-plea-russian-interference-d4d31ee0-bb9f-48e2-8e65-948e2138b5bc.html" data-vars-content-id="1102d41c-d321-40f3-8bc3-3d6daa945af3" data-vars-headline="Russia formally charges American Paul Whelan with espionage" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/maria-butina-guilty-plea-russian-interference-d4d31ee0-bb9f-48e2-8e65-948e2138b5bc.html" target="_self">confessed Russian agent</a> Maria Butina. Whelan pleaded <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="not guilty" data-vars-click-url="https://www.ft.com/content/3ec2b8ce-0f73-11e9-a3aa-118c761d2745" data-vars-content-id="1102d41c-d321-40f3-8bc3-3d6daa945af3" data-vars-headline="Russia formally charges American Paul Whelan with espionage" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.ft.com/content/3ec2b8ce-0f73-11e9-a3aa-118c761d2745" target="_blank">not guilty</a> to espionage charges, according to his lawyer. Go deeper: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="American detained in Russia visited by U.S. ambassador" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/paul-whelan-american-detained-russia-ambassador-huntsman-ad110546-4ccf-4b71-a399-6a0c20d3a4da.html" data-vars-content-id="1102d41c-d321-40f3-8bc3-3d6daa945af3" data-vars-headline="Russia formally charges American Paul Whelan with espionage" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/paul-whelan-american-detained-russia-ambassador-huntsman-ad110546-4ccf-4b71-a399-6a0c20d3a4da.html" target="_self">American detained in Russia visited by U.S. ambassador</a>

China is becoming the most formidable rival America has faced, and the risk of confrontation with Russia, North Korea or Iran still looms. Authoritarians are rising, the chaotic Afghanistan exit revealed the limits of U.S. power, and the pandemic, climate change and other critical challenges continue to pose grave threats.