Disinfo: Coronavirus COVID-19 reached NATO and disrupts its anti-Russian plans

Summary

Coronavirus COVID-19 continues to spread throughout the world. Hundreds of forums and international events are being cancelled due to the pandemic. The time has come for NATO military exercises. COVID-19 reaches NATO and disrupts its plans. The large anti-Russian exercise Cold Response is cancelled. So, it is possible that the same decision will be made for the Defender 2020.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative claiming that NATO is encircling Russia and that US-led military exercises, Cold Response and Defender-Europe 2020, are directed against Russia. Find similar cases here. Cold Response 2020 is a Norwegian-led military exercise in northern Norway and not directed against Russia. Norway is a leading nation in NATO when it comes to cold weather operations, and has extensive experience in this field. This makes Norway a natural and experienced host for winter exercises such as Cold Response. The main aim of the exercise is to secure the Norwegian Armed Forces and allies' ability to conduct multinational joint exercises with a high-intensity combat scenario in demanding winter conditions. The exercise is now being terminated, due to the ongoing coronavirus situation in Norway. Defender Europe 2020 is not aimed against Russia and is defensive in nature. NATO’s secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg affirmed that it is not directed against any particular country. Its purpose is to practice the rapid deployment of large-scale forces across the Atlantic into Europe, demonstrating the US military’s ability to quickly send a massive contingent to support NATO and respond to any crisis. In response to the current outbreak of the COVID-19 virus and recent guidance by the United States Secretary of Defence, the exercise has been modified in size and scope. You can see other examples of disinformation about NATO in our database, such as its never-ending provocations, its attempts to block Moscow in its sphere of influence, the Alliance's permanent targeting of Russia and Belarus, its role as a US subjugation tool for other countries and its unreliability to defend its members or its plans to continue attacking other countries, and that Defender 2020 is for testing options for invading the Kaliningrad region.

Go to search

publication/media

ru.armeniasputnik.am (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 189
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 14/03/2020
  • Outlet language(s) Russian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Norway, Russia
  • Keywords: Defender Europe 2020, Military exercise, Anti-Russian, Encircling Russia, NATO
see more

Disinfo: There is not the slightest trace of a coronavirus pandemic

Today WHO declared the coronavirus COVID-19 a “pandemic” – when there is not the slightest trace of a pandemic. A pandemic might be the condition, when the death to infection rate reaches more than 12%.

Mar 13, 2020
Disproof

A pro-Kremlin narrative, designated to cause confusion and diminish distrust in national and international authorities. This outlet is using a random definition for a pandemic, not founded in research or public health practice. WHO decided 11 March to declare the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic to emphasise the urgency of actions and encourage national health authorities to take decisive measures to curb the outbreak. By the time of the announcement the virus had spread to 114 countries and claimed over 4,000 lives.

Disinfo: WHO received orders from "above" to declare a coronavirus pandemic

WHO has most likely received orders from “above”, from those people who also manage Trump and the “leaders” (sic) of the European Union and her member countries, those who aim to control the world with force – the One World Order.

Mar 13, 2020
Disproof

An unfounded conspiracy theory, sharing a recurrent pro-Kremlin narrative about "secret elites" controlling world leaders. See more examples of pro-Kremlin disinformation about the coronavirus here.

Disinfo: The decision to go ahead on the coronavirus pandemic was taken at the Davos Forum by the Rothschilds and the Gates

The final decision to go ahead NOW , was taken in January 2020 at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos – behind very much closed doors, of course. The Gates, GAVI (an association of vaccination-promoting pharmaceuticals), Rockefellers, Rothschilds et al, they are all behind this decision.

Mar 13, 2020
Disproof

An unfounded conspiracy theory, sharing a recurrent pro-Kremlin narrative about "secret elites" controlling world leaders. Consistent with anti-Semitic disinformation narratives. See related pro-Kremlin disinformation case, alleging that coronavirus originated in a laboratory sponsored by George Soros.