The US claims that Russia subtly spent $300 million to influence global politics.

Since 2014, Russia has secretly sent at least $300 million to foreign political parties and candidates in more than two dozen countries, according to a declassified US intelligence assessment.

According to a senior administration official, “US intelligence believes that these are minimum figures and that Russia has likely transferred additional funds covertly in cases that have gone undetected.”

“We believe this is just the tip of the iceberg,” the official said on the condition of anonymity to reporters.

The United States intelligence community did not declassify information on specific countries. Previously, US officials cited Bosnia and Ecuador as countries where Russia intervened directly through its financial power.

One of the most egregious cases cited in the new assessment involved the Russian ambassador in an unnamed Asian country providing millions of dollars to a presidential candidate.

According to the assessment, Russia has used fictitious contracts and shell companies to fund European parties. In contrast, its state-owned companies have directly funneled covert funding into Central America, Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa.

According to the assessment, Russia has sometimes sent cash but has also used cryptocurrency and “lavish” gifts.

Following Russia’s February 24 invasion of Ukraine, which prompted a significant US effort to isolate Moscow and arm Kyiv, President Joe Biden’s administration requested the assessment.

According to the administration official, US diplomats share their findings with governments in over 100 countries.

According to the official, the effort is part of Biden’s “Summit of Democracies” initiative, which he launched after defeating Donald Trump.